BackSmriti Irani: From TV’s ‘bahu’ to minister in Modi govt
In last 10 years, BJP leader has contested in high-profile contests against Rahul Gandhi (Amethi, 2014) and Kapil Sibal (Chandni Chowk, 2004)
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New Delhi: From being one of the most popular faces on the small screen to taking on Rahul Gandhi in a high-profile Lok Sabha poll battle in Amethi, Smriti Irani’s induction in the Narendra Modi ministry represents a crowning glory in her political career.
Having acquired fame as a TV actress in “saas-bahu" soap opera, she continued to under spotlight after she switched over from TV to politics and fought two tough electoral battles in the last 10 years including one against Congress heavyweight Kapil Sibal from Chandni Chowk in Delhi in 2004.
As BJP’s candidate from Congress bastion of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh where she took on Rahul Gandhi, Irani fought one of the most high-profile electoral contests of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. She lost but not without putting up an impressive fight that saw Rahul’s margin of victory to just over a lakh.
A former national president of Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) women’s wing, Irani now holds the position of vice president in the party.
Irani was born in Delhi and had her education in New Delhi before she shifted to Mumbai and became a household name because of her role in the TV serial Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi for her portrayal of the character of Tulsi. Married to businessman Zubin Irani and having one son and a daughter, Smriti Irani lists reading as her past-time.
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