Smriti Irani calls Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi a ‘side project': ‘I am a part-time actor, full time politician'
While talking to NDTV, she said, 'Kyunki Saans Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi is a side project. For most consumers, the project is not one individual, it's always a group of actors coming together. A group of writers coming together. I am, very humbly so, the most recognisable face out of that mix of people but I am a full time politician and a part-time actor. Just like many politicians who are part-time lawyers, part-time teachers, part-time journalists. I just happen to be doing it simultaneously, which is difficult to grasp. I am just the one in the spotlight.'
ALSO READ | 'We broke the so-called glass ceiling…I am paid more than the male actor': Smriti Irani on pay parity while shooting Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi; how to ask for it
Smriti Irani further shared that she is unbothered by people who say that Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi promotes patriarchal values. 'Couldn't care less, because the criticism was not constructive or informed. The show spoke about marital rape 25 years ago. The show about adult literacy 25 years ago. The show spoke about euthanasia 25 years ago. Those were issues that were not even touched by mainstream cinema, and we did it commercially in a television slot which was meant for family viewing. One needs to understand 25 years there was nothing called pay parity. We brought pay parity where one's talent and not gender decided how much one would get paid. Ektaa Kapoor was given 10:30 slot, which was a dead slot and we created prime time.'
Talking about how she feels about making a comeback on screen, Smriti expressed, 'For a 49 year old to have a 25 year run, not only in media, but also politics… That is a blessed run, because in our country's history, never has somebody managed to, with God's blessings, managed to be successful in both these very competitive fields. And more so, if you're a woman to be at the top of the game continuously for two and a half decades in media and politics is no mean feat. But that is also somewhere where destiny and luck has had a role to play.'
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi will air from July 29 at 10.30 pm on Star Plus and JioHotstar.
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