Actor/politician Smriti Irani still commands respect and adulation from the audience wherever she goes. At a time when there are no real stars on television, it doesn’t take much to recall how her portrayal of Tulsi made her a star in every household. And now she is back. As a Gujrati bahu but in a different avatar in a serial Maniben that has been adapted from her hit Gujrati play. Here are excerpts of her interview that she gave to an international magazine.
What has been keeping you busy and away from the screen?
Family, politics, travelling, and the idea of a break! Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi went on for eight long years, so effectively, this is the longest break I’ve taken in a decade! I have led such a public life for 10 years that I value my privacy now.
How did you come up with the idea of adapting Maniben to TV?
Maniben is a comedy with a strong social message. It is about a woman’s journey from a small village in Gujrat to the posh Malabar Hill in Mumbai. While people often change according to their surroundings, Mani retains the same outlook as ever.
We started the play three years back. People got a chance to see my different shades as an actor. Such was its popularity that we took it to over 80 countries in India and abroad.
Thanks to first Kyunki and now Maniben, you seem to have found a comfort zone
in Gujrati…
Even though my dad is Punjabi and mom Bengali, my husband is a Gujrati and my grandmom and uncle (mother’s brother) had been stationed in Vadodara. I was closest to my grandmom and Vadodara was the epicenter of everything I am today. So yes, my Gujrati connection runs deep.
Do you rue the end of Kyunki?
There should have been more concentration on the script. Rajesh Doshi’s essence was seeped in tradition and human values. But when we moved away, we lost the audience. I still feel that the first and second generation of actors in Kyunki had a real connect with the audience. Nevertheless, nothing can take away the fact that it made history and went on for eight years. Success is not easily sustainable, so when people take their instant success seriously, it amuses me. Coming up with stories and starry tantrums is beyond me.
A lot has been said about your relationship with Ekta Kapoor…
I have worked with many people like Sunjoy Wadhwa and Sanjay Upadhyay, but it’s only my relationship with Ekta that has been spoken about. If I have a job, I go there, do it, and come back. I’m not into partying. And I’ve been to Ekta’s house only twice - once after my marriage and another time to pick up something. Ekta is just another human being. I never gave her a demi-god status and she never demanded it. And while there could have been 20 saas-bahus, there was only one Tulsi. My only focus was my performance, and fortunately, even the audiences spoke about my scenes.
How did you feel when Virudh went off air?
Virudh was a power packed drama. The true test for any serial is whether the script is good or not. And I can honestly say that I am proud of Virudh. For as long as it was on, it won a record number of awards.
Have you been following the trends on television?
Frankly, the excitement, the entertainment, has gone out of TV. TV used to drive our schedules. Now everything is a copy, there is nothing authentic. There are too many irritating wean offs of the original.
Lastly, your views on the recently concluded elections?
Any intelligent human being would not give predictions on what will be. On my part from BJP, I have been involved in active electoral politics which have taken me to every state across the country. And frankly, sometimes we ourselves don’t realise the diversity of our country. The local issues are very important. And unlike what we believe, there is a lot of political awareness in the rural areas. So when the public stand up, you better watch out.
