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Smriti IraniIndian politician, actress
Date of Birth: 23.03.1976
Country:  India |
Content:
Birth and Family Background
Smriti Irani, an Indian politician and former actress, was born in New Delhi, India. She is the eldest of three daughters and has mixed Punjabi, Maharashtrian, and Assamese heritage. From a young age, Irani was strongly influenced by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a Hindu nationalist organization, due to her grandfather's membership and her mother's role in its political wing, Bharatiya Jana Sangh.
Education
Despite conflicting accounts, it is believed that Irani completed her 12th grade at the Holy Child Auxilium Convent School. She has been reported to have pursued a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree from Delhi University in 1996, while also stating that she attended only a year of a Bachelor of Commerce (Part I B.Com) program in 1994. In 2013, media sources claimed that Irani enrolled in a college but did not complete her studies after her first year.
Modeling and Acting Career
Before embarking on her modeling career, Irani worked at McDonald's. In 1998, she became a finalist in the Miss India Pageant. That same year, she appeared in the music video for Mikky Singh's song "Boliyan."
Irani made her television debut in 2000 with the serials "Kavita" and "Hum Hain Kal Aaj Aur Kal" on Star Plus. From 2000 to 2007, she played the titular role in the highly successful soap opera "Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi," for which she received numerous awards, including five consecutive Indian Television Academy Awards for Best Actress. In 2001, she portrayed Sita in the television series "Ramayan."
In addition to her acting roles, Irani co-produced the serials "Thodi Si Zameen Thoda Sa Aasmaan" in 2006 and "Virrudh" in 2007, in which she also played lead roles. She also produced and had a supporting role in the serial "Mere Apne" in 2007.
Political Career
Irani joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2003 and became the Vice President of the party's youth wing in Maharashtra in 2004. She unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha elections in 2004 but was appointed as the National Secretary of the BJP in 2010. In 2011, she was elected to the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament.
In the 2014 parliamentary elections, Irani was defeated by Rahul Gandhi of the Indian National Congress. However, she was subsequently appointed Minister of Human Resource Development in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet, becoming the youngest member at the age of 38.
Personal Life
In 2001, Irani married businessman Zubin Irani. They have two children, a son named Zohr and a daughter named Zoish. The couple also raises Chanel, Zubin's daughter from his previous marriage to actress Mona Irani.
