Smriti Irani
Smriti Zubin Irani is an Indian politician and former TV actress. She became famous for playing Tulsi Virani in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. After many years away from acting, she returned to the same role in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 (2025).
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| Smriti Irani in 2025 | |
| Born | 23 March 1976 (age 49) Delhi, India |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian |
| Education | |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation | Politician, Actress, Model |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Known for | Tulsi Virani in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, BJP leader |
| Notable works | Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2, Ramayan |
| Awards | 5× ITA Award for Best Actress Popular, 4× Indian Telly Awards |
| Spouse(s) | Zubin Irani |
| Parents | Ajay Kumar Malhotra (father), Shibani Bagchi (mother) |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Website | |
She comes from a mixed cultural background — Punjabi, Marathi, and Bengali. She joined the BJP in 2003 and has been active in the party for more than 22 years, with her family also connected to the party for three generations.
Smriti Irani served as a Member of Parliament from 2011 to 2024. She was in the Rajya Sabha (2011–2019) and later won the Amethi Lok Sabha seat in 2019, defeating Rahul Gandhi. She is the only non-Gandhi woman MP to complete a full term in Amethi. In 2024, she lost the seat to Congress leader Kishori Lal Sharma.
She has also held many important posts in the BJP, including National President of the Mahila Morcha.
Early Life & Education
Smriti Irani was born as Smriti Malhotra on 23 March 1976, New Delhi, India. Her father name is Ajay Kumar Malhotra and mother is Shibani Bagchi. She is the eldest of three sisters.
She studied at Holy Child Auxilium School in New Delhi and later joined Delhi University’s School of Open Learning. She completed only her first-year B.Com exams and did not finish the full degree.
Personal Life
In 2001, she married Zubin Irani, a Parsi businessman. They have two children — son Zohr (born 2001) and daughter Zoish (born 2003). She is also the stepmother of Shanelle, Zubin’s daughter from his earlier marriage.
In 2018, she said she is a practising Hindu, married to a practising Zoroastrian, and that she wears sindoor as part of her Hindu belief.
Career
Smriti Irani’s journey is often described as a middle-class woman rising from TV “bahu” to a prominent national leader. She started her career with small jobs, including working at India’s first McDonald’s outlet. Later, she became a Miss India top 10 finalist, worked as a model, and then became a famous TV actress with her iconic role as Tulsi in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi.
She joined the BJP in 2003 while still acting on television. Over the years, she held many major posts: Vice-President of BJP Maharashtra Youth Wing, National Secretary, National President of BJP Mahila Morcha, and Member of the Rajya Sabha from Gujarat.
Smriti Irani has also served in important Union Government roles — HRD Minister, Textiles Minister, Information & Broadcasting (Independent Charge), and later as Minister of Women & Child Development and Minister of Minority Affairs in the 17th Lok Sabha.
Acting Career
Smriti Irani took part in Miss India 1998, but did not reach the top 9. She appeared in a music video “Boliyan” and then started acting on TV in 2000 with shows like Aatish and Hum Hain Kal Aaj Aur Kal. She also acted in Kavita on DD Metro.
Her big break came when she played Tulsi Virani in Ekta Kapoor’s Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, which made her one of India’s most famous TV actresses. She won many awards and became the highest-paid actress of that time. After a fallout, she left the show in 2007, returned briefly in 2008, and later the show ended.
She also played Sita in Ramayan (2002), produced shows like Thodi Si Zameen Thoda Sa Aasmaan, Virrudh, Mere Apne, and acted in Teen Bahuraaniyaan and Maniben.com. She hosted Yeh Hai Jalwa and even acted in a Bengali film Amrita (2012).
In 2025, she returned as Tulsi in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 on StarPlus.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi
The character Tulsi became a household name and one of the most loved roles in Indian TV history. The show was the first in India to cross 1000+ episodes, stayed No.1 in TRPs for weeks, and had massive viewership, including a record 77 million during its re-release.
Political Career
Smriti Irani joined the BJP in 2003. In 2004, she became Vice-President of the BJP Maharashtra Youth Wing. The same year, she contested her first Lok Sabha election from Chandni Chowk but lost to Kapil Sibal. After the BJP’s defeat, she briefly protested against Narendra Modi but withdrew after the party warned her. She was later made an Executive Member of the BJP Central Committee. In 2009, while campaigning, she spoke strongly about women’s safety and supported strict punishment for rapists. In 2010, she became the National Secretary of the BJP, and then the All India President of the BJP Mahila Morcha. During this time, she helped women Army officers get legal aid for Permanent Commission. In 2011, she entered Parliament through the Rajya Sabha from Gujarat. In the 2014 elections, she contested against Rahul Gandhi in Amethi but lost. Despite this, she was appointed HRD Minister in Prime Minister Modi’s cabinet. Her appointment was criticised because of her incomplete higher education, and she also faced allegations about mismatching educational affidavits. As HRD Minister, she introduced several university reforms and spoke strongly in Parliament during the JNU and Rohith Vemula controversies. In 2016, she moved to the Textiles Ministry, and in 2017 she also handled the Information & Broadcasting Ministry. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, she defeated Rahul Gandhi and became MP from Amethi. In the 2024 elections, she lost the seat to Congress leader Kishori Lal Sharma.
Meanwhile, in 2025, she returned to acting by playing Tulsi again in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2.
Filmography
Telivision
| Year | Show | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Aatish | Younger twin sister |
| 2000–2008 | Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi | Tulsi Virani |
| 2025–present | Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi — Tulsi Ka Safar / Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 | Tulsi Virani |
| 2000 | Hum Hain Kal Aaj Aur Kal | — |
| 2000 | Kavita | Kavita |
| 2001–2003 | Kya Hadsaa Kya Haqeeqat | Smriti |
| 2001–2002 | Ramayan | Sita |
| 2003 | Kuch... Diiil Se | Host |
| 2006–2007 | Thodi Si Zameen Thoda Sa Aasmaan | Uma |
| 2007–2008 | Virrudh | Vasudha Sharma |
| 2007–2008 | Mere Apne | Sharda |
| 2007–2008 | Teen Bahuraaniyaan | Vrinda Desai |
| 2008 | Yeh Hai Jalwa | Host |
| 2008 | Waaris | Producer |
| 2009–2010 | Maniben.com | Maniben Patel |
| 2012 | Savdhaan India | Host |
| 2013 | Ek Thhi Naayka | Swati |
Theatre
| Project | Language | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Kuch Tum Kaho Kuch Hum Kahein | Hindi | Sargam |
| Maniben.com | Gujarati | Mani |
| Koi Taru Bau Saru Thayu | Gujarati | Devika |
| Muktidhaam | Gujarati | Mother |
| Garv Thi Kaho Ame Gujarati Chhiye | Gujarati | Mridula |
| Jai Bolo Telangana | Telugu | Mother |
= Films
| Year | Film | Role | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Malik Ek | Dwarkamai | Hindi |
| 2011 | Jai Bolo Telangana | Activist | Telugu |
| 2012 | Amrita | Amrita | Bengali |
Notable Works
Smriti Irani is well known for her iconic role as Tulsi Virani in the television soap opera Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi (2000–2008) and its sequel Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 (2025). In addition, she starred in TV series like Thodi Si Zameen Thoda Sa Aasmaan, Virrudh, Mere Apne, and Teen Bahuraaniyaan in addition to playing Sita in Ramayan (2001–2002). In addition to acting, she has produced and hosted a number of television shows, such as Yeh Hai Jalwa, Maniben.com, and Waaris. She also appeared in the Telugu movie Jai Bolo Telangana (2011) and the Bengali movie Amrita (2012).
Achievements and Recognition
Smriti Irani has won four Indian Telly Awards for her portrayal of Tulsi and five consecutive ITA Awards for Best Actress Popular. She has been widely praised for her work in television. Her portrayal of Tulsi became a cultural phenomenon in India and overseas, and she rose to become one of the highest-paid TV actresses of her era. She became the only non-Gandhi woman to represent the constituency in decades when she defeated Rahul Gandhi in Amethi in 2019, making political history. She has served in important capacities within the BJP, such as National President of the Mahila Morcha, Minister of Women & Child Development and Minority Affairs, and Minister of HRD, Textiles, Information, and Broadcasting.