Smriti: Acting her way into politics

Everyone remembers Smriti Irani as ‘Tulsi’ in the popular TV serial Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. Before finding stardom, she worked as a waitress in McDonald’s. Irani was also a finalist in the beauty pageant Femina Miss India 1998.

A Punjabi-Bengali, she went on to become the most successful television actress, still holding the record of winning five consecutive Indian Television Academy Awards for Best Actress, four Indian Telly Awards and eight Star Parivaar Awards.

Irani joined BJP in 2003. She lost to Rahul Gandhi, contesting the 2014 election from. Modi inducted her into the Cabinet as the Minister of Human Resource Development. Incidentally, she is the youngest member of the Cabinet.

 

When and where was she born?

Born on March 23, 1976 in Kolkata

Marriage and family:

Irani married Zubin Irani, a Zoroastrian in 2001. The couple have a son and a daughter named Zohr and Zoish, respectively.

Education:

She studied upto class 12 at Holy Child Auxilium School, New Delhi.

Interesting facts:

• Smriti runs an organisation, “People for Change” which provides drinking water to the poor in India’s remote areas.
• Irani has co-produced the show Thodi Si Zameen Thoda Sa Aasmaan under her banner Ugraya Entertainment and Balaji Telefilms. She also played the lead role.
• She produced several TV serials along with Virrudh for Sony TV where she portrayed the lead character
• In 2012, she also worked in Bengali movie Amrita.
• In December 2004, Irani threatened to “fast unto death” until then Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi resigned, blaming him for BJP’s electoral losses. However she later retracted this demand after BJP’s central leadership threatened to take action against her.
• In May 2009, Irani while campaigning for Vijay Goel’s candidature in New Delhi, voiced her concerns about the safety of women in the capital. She advocated capital punishment for rapists as a deterrent.
• In early 2010, Irani was appointed as the National Secretary of the party and on June 24, she was appointed as All India President of the BJP’s women’s wing, BJP Mahila Morcha
• In August 2011, she was sworn in as a Member of Parliament from Gujarat to the Rajya Sabha. In the same year, she also led the BJP’s women’s wing in Himachal Pradesh.