From writing concept of TV show ‘Virrudh’ to declining Dil Chahta Hai audition: Revelations made by Kyunki’s Smriti Irani

Smriti Irani discussed her career choices and how she doesn't regret any of them. The actress-turned-politician revealed that she turned down auditions for "Dil Chahta Hai" because she chose motherhood over a potential acting opportunity. Here's a glimpse into some of her candid revelations and the interesting decisions she's made throughout her career.

I would not go to weddings and get money for inaugurating some shop. There was a lot of money in that. And I don’t deny that colleagues who wanted to make that money made that money. But I had a different view of myself as a professional. I had familial responsibilities. I didn’t want my work as a professional to become an embarrassment for my colleagues, even in politics. I didn’t want to become embarrassment for my family members. So I wanted to lead my life as an actor with dignity to say, ‘This is what I can do, This is what I cannot do’.

I made choices, where even in the first three months of Kyunki, I was offered main leads in movies. But I had decided I’ll have a baby. And I knew if I am wanting to have a baby I can’t be some heroine running around trees. So, there were life choices that I made very clearly.”

I have seen one of those movies, Dil Chahta Hai, which I said no to for auditioning. And they were like ‘are you mad? This is Dil Chahta Hai’. I said no don’t want to because I knew I wanted to have a baby. It was not Preity Zinta for sure but it was one of the other ladies who was there. One of the other leading ladies. Why would I go and audition for something which I know I would not do. Not for the lack of it, not to stand next to some film star. So, I was very clear where I was headed professionally. And that’s why I absolutely have no regrets for walking away from things.

I was the highest paid actor by the time I left. When I came in, I was the lowest paid. And I do, at many times tell women that they should negotiate their contract better because when I came into acting, I had no money so I was take any money that was given to me because I had not proven my capacity then. But in the first year of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, I was very clear that I was carrying the show on my shoulders. So, first year of renegotiating my contract was the toughest year because I still didn’t have that much money. But I knew my capacities, I knew what I could leverage.”

So the first two-three years of having arrived were the tough ones because you start negotiating contracts with people who are otherwise comfortable with you till you ask for what is your right. But yes, when I left, I was the highest paid actor in Indian television. But I also had a few conditionalities. I missed on many opportunities, where I would not do a pan masala ad, a baniyan ad standing next to some gentleman. I was very clear that this is not how I perceive myself to be.

The actress saw her fair shares of ups and downs in the industry. The actress revealed earning Rs 1800 per month and spoke about working in a fast food chain and even washing dishes as a part of her job. She said, “Side mein Hindustan ka pehla McDonald’s hai, uska interview chal raha tha. Toh mene pucha ki kuch agar chal raha hai, I can interview for. Toh unhone kaha ki ek hi position bacha hai vo entry level hai, unhone kaha bartan dhone ka kaam hai. That’s how I got my first job.”

I did a movie called ‘Jai Bolo Telangana’. I painted my whole hair white. The film was my first Telugu film for the students’ revolt for the creation for the state of Telangana. Now, I did it when we knew people of all ideologies that come together irrespective of our politics. And I was supposed to play the role of a mother who’s imploring students not to commit suicide for the movement of the state. So even now when I go to Telangana, they call me ‘Telangana Thalli’. So those are the parts of my career, which are possibly not known.

I have written shows. One was called Virrudh. Not many people know that I wrote it. I wrote it with the writer Kamlesh Pandey, who wrote Rang De Basanti. But I produced it. So I have done production, I have done post production, I have sat on edits, I have done direction, I have done acting, I have done writing. So imagine the respect you have given even a story concept to a guy like Kamlesh Pandey, to say, ‘Sir will you now expand on this and write a series and they are like, ‘Yeah’. My name is there under show concept. There’s another show Thodi Si Zameen, Thoda Sa Aasmaan, that was my concept. There are many parts of me in the media background, which never came to the fore, that’s because the Tulsi part was overwhelming.