By Reporter

Copyright thetimesofbengal

Actor-turned-politician Smriti Irani reveals how she faced criticism, financial struggles, and gender pay gap before making her mark in both entertainment and politics.

Actor and former Union Minister Smriti Irani recently opened up about the struggles she endured at the start of her career. Speaking to Soha Ali Khan on her podcast All About Her, Smriti recalled being dismissed as a “crappy actor” despite her hard work.

She shared how, in the late 1990s and early 2000s, she was constantly compared with her male co-stars, who were paid far more than she was. “Everywhere I would go, they would say you’re a crappy actor… The male actor was getting paid more than me,” she said. Despite the criticism, Smriti went on to become one of television’s most loved faces through her iconic role as Tulsi Virani in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi.

How did she start her journey?

Smriti reflected on her humble beginnings before television fame. “My first job was on the streets of Delhi in Janpath for Rs 200 a day,” she recalled. At the time, she had borrowed money from her father with a strict condition attached. “He said, ‘I’ll give you one year and if you can’t pay me back, marry whoever I tell you to marry’,” she revealed.

Looking back, Smriti admitted that she often questioned her place in life. “I’m going to live the rest of my life as somebody’s wife. 17 years as your daughter. When do I get to live for myself?” she once asked her father. These moments, she shared, became turning points in her journey.

What would today’s Smriti tell her younger self?

When asked by Soha Ali Khan what advice the present Smriti would give to her younger self, especially during her Tulsi days, she replied with wit: “Get a better paycheck.”

This candid answer reflected not only her awareness of the gender pay gap in the entertainment industry but also her ability to look back at challenges with humour and resilience.

How did she step into politics?

Smriti also spoke about her unexpected entry into politics. “In 2004, I fought my first election. I was 27. There’s no education, no academic adventure to understand hardcore politics,” she admitted. Despite having no formal training in political science, she built her career through persistence and courage.

Recalling one incident, she revealed how an editor once called her angrily. “A very angry editor called me on my phone… Shouting on my phone, what is wrong with you? Come out’.” Such encounters, she said, shaped her political journey and helped her grow thicker skin.

Who is Smriti Irani beyond politics?

Born in Delhi into a Marathi-Punjabi-Bengali household, Smriti Irani began her career as a model in 1994 before transitioning to acting. Apart from Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, she appeared in serials like Maniben.com, Teen Bahuraaniyaan, and DD Metro’s Kavita.

She later married businessman Zubin Irani, and while her personal life remained largely private, her professional choices made her one of the most influential figures in both television and politics.

Highlights:

Smriti Irani recalls being labelled a “crappy actor” in her early acting days.
She started her career earning Rs 200 a day on Delhi’s Janpath.
Smriti entered politics at 27 without any formal background in the field.