Smriti Irani (Tulsi)

Twenty-five years after becoming a household name as Tulsi Virani in the television megahit Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Smriti Irani is once again stepping into the world of acting. But this return to the small screen has triggered a big question in political circles: What happened to Smriti Irani the politician?

The former Union Minister — once touted as the BJP’s brightest woman face — finds herself without a ministerial berth in the third Modi government. Her political journey, full of drama, controversy, and resilience, now resembles the very soap operas she once ruled.

From Tulsi to the Cabinet — and Back

Smriti Irani’s rise to fame began not in politics, but in glamour. After contesting for Miss India in 1998 and working in music videos, her life changed in 2000 with her role as Tulsi Virani, the epitome of sanskaar in every Indian household. Yet, politics was always on her mind. In 2003, at the height of her acting career, she joined the BJP, mentored by Pramod Mahajan.

She fought her first election in 2004 against Kapil Sibal and lost. Yet, that didn’t stop her. Over the next decade, she worked behind the scenes, holding party positions, becoming a Rajya Sabha MP, and building influence in Gujarat — Narendra Modi’s stronghold. She defended him fiercely during the 2002 riots controversy and earned his trust.

Controversy Follows Power

In 2014, despite losing Amethi to Rahul Gandhi, Smriti Irani was handed the high-profile Human Resource Development Ministry. That’s where controversy truly caught up with her. From conflicting affidavits about her educational qualifications, a Yale “degree” that turned out to be a 6-day certificate and ideological clashes in academia, her tenure was polarizing.

The 2016 Rohith Vemula suicide case, where Smriti’s ministry was accused of overreach and caste bias, and the JNU sedition row, in which doctored videos played a key role, marked a turning point. Her aggressive style and refusal to acknowledge missteps made her a lightning rod for criticism.

Eventually, she was moved out of HRD in 2016 and handed the Textile Ministry — a clear demotion. Her short-lived stint as Information and Broadcasting Minister ended amid backlash over attempts to regulate “fake news”.

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From Giant Slayer to Political Sideline

Despite setbacks, Smriti Irani didn’t give up. In 2019, she pulled off the impossible — defeating Rahul Gandhi in Amethi, earning the title of giant slayer. Her reward: the Women and Child Development Ministry and later, Minority Affairs.

But once again, her tenure was marred by shouting matches in Parliament, controversial remarks, and missed moments. Her silence on critical women’s issues — like the Manipur violence or allegations against BJP MP Brij Bhushan Singh — drew criticism.

Her 2024 defeat to Kishori Lal Sharma, a lesser-known Congress leader, by a staggering 1.67 lakh votes, was not just an electoral loss — it signaled the end of the road, at least for now.

Why Was She Dropped in Modi 3.0?

It’s not just about a loss. Smriti Irani, once the youngest minister in Modi’s 2014 cabinet, has seen her political capital erode. Her confrontational style, poor electoral record (3 losses out of 4), and waning popularity in Amethi may have cost her the party’s confidence.

When Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar’s resignation rumors surfaced, PM Modi’s cryptic tweet praising young, inexperienced leaders trusted with big responsibilities in 2014 seemed like a parting message to Smriti Irani, too.

Is This Really the End? Or a Pause?

Smriti Irani returning to television feels symbolic — as if the curtain has closed on her political career, at least for now. But in politics, as in TV serials, comebacks are always possible.

She remains a recognizable face, with Ekta Kapoor’s backing and the brand power of Tulsi Virani. Her comeback could be a soft reboot — to stay in public memory, regain popularity, and possibly stage a political return later.

But questions linger:

• Was she a victim of internal party politics, arrogance, or simply her own track record?

• Is the BJP, despite being the strongest party, unable to find a woman leader they can fully back?

• Or is it Smriti’s own choices that dimmed her once-bright future?

A Political Soap Opera Like No Other

Smriti Irani’s story is not just one of rise and fall, but also of transformation, risks, and reinvention. She went from being Tulsi to a firebrand politician, to now again an actress. Her supporters say she’s just taking a break. Her critics see it as a retreat.

But one thing is certain — Smriti Irani is not done yet.

After all, soap operas never really end — they just take a break between seasons.

Opinion | Smriti Irani: A Story of Stardom, Struggle, and Silence

Smriti Irani’s return to television after 25 years is poetic, but also political.

Once the youngest cabinet minister in Modi’s 2014 government, Smriti represented bold ambition — a TV icon transitioning into serious politics. But today, her return to acting feels less like a choice and more like a fallback, raising uncomfortable questions: Has she been sidelined? Ignored? Punished?

After losing Amethi in 2024 by over 1.6 lakh votes, there was no official statement, no press conference, no party defense. Just silence. For someone who was called the “giant slayer” in 2019, this quiet exit from the cabinet in 2024 feels loaded.

Was it because of arrogance? Miscalculations? Or was she simply a victim of the BJP’s internal power dynamics?

Let’s be honest — Smriti Irani was never a typical politician. She was theatrical, emotional, aggressive, and combative — and that made her both an asset and a liability. Her talent to dominate debates made headlines, but her inability to deliver on key portfolios like education and women’s development drew criticism — even from within the party.

From misstatements about her own degree to her handling of Rohith Vemula’s case, and later her silence on women wrestlers protesting Brij Bhushan Singh, Smriti seemed more focused on theatrics than outcomes. Her political journey mirrored a television serial — big twists, bold dialogues, but often lacking in substance.

What troubles me most is not her defeat — that’s part of politics — but the way she’s being treated now. BJP, which claims to be the strongest political force, seems to have no space left for one of its most recognizable women leaders. That’s not just Smriti’s loss; it’s a signal of something deeper within the system.

Yet, I won’t write her off. Smriti Irani is a fighter. She knows how to stay in the spotlight, and if politics is about perception, she’s a master of narrative. With Tulsi Virani back on screen, she’s rebuilding her connection with the masses — and maybe preparing for Season 2 of her political career.

But this time, I hope she returns not with arrogance or aggression — but with humility, purpose, and performance.

Because the audience — whether in TV or in politics — only stays loyal as long as you deliver.

— Naveed Uddin Khan Uzair
Opinion Contributor, Crime Today News

This article is published by Crime Today News ©