Bollywood actor Boman Irani says charm and star appeal are crucial to success in the film industry.

"Actors must be entertainers and realistic acting must be watchable because realism could be very boring and ho-hum," Irani told a movie magazine.

''You might be the greatest actor in the world and yet nobody would want to watch you act,'' said Irani, a popular actor who often takes on comic roles in Indian cinema.

''Some may not have the Greek god looks that other actors may have, but they are bigger stars because of sheer charisma and charm,'' he said.

Irani said becoming a star was not something that could be taught.

''There's a certain quality that a star has, that no amount of workshops with the greatest acting teachers in the world can give you,'' he said.

Irani moved from theater to Indian cinema five years ago and has carved a comic niche for himself in Bollywood.

Irani has starred in more than 16 movies and shot to fame in the 2003 hit comedy Munnabhai MBBS. His latest offering is a sequel to that movie Lage Raho Munnabhai.