I'm taking sanyas from TV: Smriti

She was and still is, in many ways, Indian television's most famous and favourite bahu. Setting the benchmark for many future reel daughters-in-law through her show "Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhie Bahu Thi", Indian television phenomenon, Smriti Irani has now entered Telugu filmdom with, "Jai Bolo Telangana. 


While the shift from TV to films is almost like a natural progression, one wonders what brought the actor-turned-politician to Telugu cinema, that too in a movie dealing with the issue of Telangana? I was reccomended to the director of the movie, N Shankar, by a journalist. 


Shankar was looking for a neutral face to play the character of a woman who has lost a lot due to the agitations. I heard the script and gave my nod immediately. For me, as long as the script is interesting, language doesn't matter. In fact, I just did a Bengali movie in which I play a woman who completes all her responsibilities towards her family and goes in 
pursuit of her own dreams," explains Smriti. 


While regional cinema welcomes her with open arms, Hindi films are still off her radar. "I did get offers from mainstream Hindi cinema projects, but they were similar to my image in "Kyunki Saas..." That did not excite me," she reveals. 


Smriti, who has done an impressive research on Telangana for the film, assures that the movie doesn't take sides. "Cinema doesn't take sides. If it does, it won't be successful," However, she opines that the agitation for a separate state is a genuine wish of the people in the region. "My mom worked in Vizag for sometime and I am aware of the agitations in the state. I have spoken to the people in the interiors — Karimnagar, Warangal et al, and realized that the agitation is genuine at the grass root levels and not just intellectual. The demand for a separate state is close their hearts," observes Smriti. And while at it, she also plans to tour the state on behalf of her party (BJP) sometime soon. 


Surprisingly, in both her Bengali and Telugu films, Smriti plays an older woman. Doesn't that bother her? "Well, I played a much older woman in "Kyunki Saas..." than what I am playing now. I'm a confident actor and my on screen looks don't matter." 


Having started a TV production company that is is now producing Gujarati plays, Smriti also runs an NGO, and heads the women's wing of the BJP. She however confesses that her first love among all the other things she is doing now, is politics. "After I joined politics I went to places where without even basic transport facility. I saw the length and breadth of this country. Life is very rosy in cities, but extremely tough in rural 


areas. Politics has taught me a lot. I have decided to take sanyas from TV for the next two years because politics is a huge responsibility. When my party needs me, I can't say I'm busy. For now politics is my priority," she confirms. 


While she enjoys being a mom, Smriti feels that multi-tasking comes naturally to Indian women. She attributes her hassle-free career to a supportive family. "My family has a history of working women. It is a joint family, so kids are taken care of even if I am travelling 25 days a month. We know how to balance work and family time quite well." 


Despite the influx of reality and game shows, she believes the Indian audience have not shifted their loyalty from family sagas. ""Kyunki Saas ..." was magic on TV. Today the highest TRPs of the most successful TV show is lesser than the lowest ratings "Kyunki Saas..." ever got. It's tough for any programme to break that record. The audience hasn't changed much because human emotions are limited. When I am unemployed, I know I can go back to TV. I will never be out of work. My goal in life is to be better than yesterday in terms of work," she says before signing off. 


Read more: I'm taking sanyas from TV: Smriti - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tv-/Im-taking-sanyas-from-TV-Smriti/articleshow/7071384.cms#ixzz17ghJG7uT