Smriti Irani interview: ‘My 10 years as minister so stamped on people's minds, they can't envision me as anyone else'

Indian Express

a day ago

Former Union Minister Smriti Irani surprised many when she announced she was reprising her role as Tulsi Virani in the limited series reboot of popular TV drama Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi — a character that made her a household name. Speaking to The Indian Express, Irani discusses her return to acting, how the entertainment industry has changed, balancing her life — and reiterates that she is not out of politics. Excerpts:
* Why did you decide to return to acting?
It is a limited series. I was keen to have a partnership with a cohort led by Uday (JioHotstar vice chairman Uday Shankar), who has a background in news and has seen Delhi from up close, and of course, Ekta (Kapoor). She has undergone a huge creative journey… (I wanted to ) see how she would perceive things from today's perspective, issues that are relevant to today's youth, to today's times. Knowing that it is a limited series, how can you not work and enjoy the benefit of this combination coming together? I have never done OTT before. I am more in an observation mode with an expectation to act.
* When you stepped onto the set, how did people respond? Was it any different from a decade ago?
I was told that I had to sit with the younger generation to do a reading so that they get comfortable. I sat with them for one-and-a-half hours. A decade ago, when I used to do acting, there was never any preparation. Now, there is a lot of it.
When I sat with them, they wanted to know the political discourse, state politics, how Parliament functions, how legislation is done, etc. Not just actors, but the writers, creative directors, too. I felt it became less of a media workshop, more of a political workshop. They are kids from different states, speaking different languages, with different ideologies. All of us come together, sit, and talk politics. That was surreal.
I managed to keep both my lives separate. My political and acting life were far from each other. Those in the sets tell me we did not know that you knew how to legislate or administer. So, a lot of my old colleagues ask me how come we didn't know all these. Those people in politics with me for the last few decades had not seen the other side of me for a decade. I just went to Bijnor to visit a bereaved colleague. Suddenly, a karyakarta came up and said, 'Didi, my mother wanted me to get a picture with you'. They all came to know that the show was coming up. Now both worlds are coming together, which never happened earlier.
* How will you balance these two roles?
I always did. I had a break only when I became a Cabinet minister. But I am so glad that as a Cabinet minister, I became so prominent that people never envisioned me as anything but a minister. I had organisational responsibility even in 2003. When I was national secretary twice and national president of the (BJP) Mahila Morcha, I was in the media even then. But my role as a Cabinet minister became so prominent that people have forgotten my other roles.
I may be the only one who has had a role in the multimedia age of politics, done legislation across five ministries, and created political history in Amethi. A whole generation has grown up in the last 10 years. They see me only as a politician, but before that too I played a fictional character.
* There was speculation that you may be sent to the Rajya Sabha as a nominated MP…
Why would I be? I am still an active politician. I am just 49 years old. There are people older than me who have done much for society and much for the organisation. If there is one person who can say that age is on my side, I am that person. I am a very patient human being who has served three terms as MP and has handled five ministries. The fact that I was the youngest minister in the first and second Modi governments is not lost on anyone. I am very proud of the fact that the 10 years as a minister are so stamped on people's minds that they cannot envision me as anyone else.
* Do you feel you are missing out on anything since, at the moment, you are neither in the government nor in Parliament?
I became an MP in 2011. I was not in Parliament before that. I do not miss anything, I make sure that I am missed. Everyone is in touch with me.
Politics is not an easy field. I have seen the best people in politics because they come to serve. For most of my colleagues in the BJP, it was never about the pursuit of power. It was about creating something for the country. It was about being happy when your colleague becomes something. I was elated when Rekha (Gupta) became CM (of Delhi), when Devendra (Fadnavis) became (Maharashtra) CM, or the achievements of Bhupendra (Yadav) bhai and Dharmendra (Pradhan) bhai as a minister. We celebrate each other's achievements. That's a quintessential core BJP karyakarta behaviour.
* Will the Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi reboot have any social or political message?
It is an unreal, surreal, made-up story that can create an indication towards certain realities of our lives. There has to be relevance to today's generation, issues that are topical to them, which require reflection. It is very easy to do reality, but very difficult to convey realities through a made-up, fictional act. You need to create a balance. I am mindful of the channel itself, the platform itself.
If you look at the first promo, it is not about the character but about Smriti Irani. It has never happened in the history of GEC (general entertainment channel) that you speak about an individual who has played a fictional character. There is a recognition that the crossroads are meeting. When they wrote the character, they were mindful that it had to be relevant to families today… Tulsi talks about the times that have changed, but the value system is consistent.
* The serial is about a Gujarati family. How much has it helped in promoting Gujarati culture?
If you watch this time, the new part you will see is an amalgamation of cultures. I don't want to give spoilers. I am married into a Parsi family, but for me to be quintessentially recognised as a Gujarati showcases the impact of what was written.
* Will you ever play a negative role?
I do not have the capacity to play one. Some may presume me to be one in politics, but I do not have it in me. I don't restrict myself in my political and media choices. I do not don the hat presuming what I can and what I cannot. But I am mindful that I am a responsible politician. I cannot afford to be irresponsible. It's a fine act of balancing because you are a part of a larger storytelling group. Whether what you say is of consequence or not should be a part of your decision. Let's say somebody's propagating a superstition. What should your character say? Your character should not propagate superstition.
* Will you be following the Monsoon Session of Parliament while on set?
Yes, I always follow the developments. I am not, and never was, out of politics.