TV actor Smriti Irani finally has a reason to smile despite BJPs dismal performance. Prime time Indias favourite bahu is enthusiastically dropping her goody girl act to try her luck in comedy for a new serial called Manniben.com to be aired on Sabe TV. I hope to use this platform to break away from my image of a daughter-in-law or mother-in-law. It will give me a chance to reflect my versatility as an actor, said Irani,dressed in a bright red sari for a press conference held at Delhis Park Hotel recently. The serial which is the screen version of a popular Gujarati play by the same name written by playwright Imtiaz Patel is based on the life of a middle class house-wife Manniben (Smriti Irani) who is married to a diamond merchant. They suddenly become prosperous and shift into an up market neighbourhood from their shanty chawl in Mumbai. It is the story of the many Mannibens living in our society who try to cope with sudden wealth and balance their middle-class values while trying to fit into high society, says the 30-something actor. The format is not new for Irani who has been part of the stage version of Manniben.com for the past three years. The show primarily targets the Gujarati speaking audience. Despite the iconic image shes created for herself through TV,Irani feels shes better while performing to a live audience. It is an actors job to be seamless. If you restrict your vision,that stymes the creative instinct in an actor, she says. The serial will have only one other actor Nitin Vakharia from the original play,who acts as Iranis husband. As for balancing her political ambitions with acting goals,Irani is confident of not falling off the tightrope just yet. I joined politics for the long haul and the general elections have not changed that, says Irani,also the National Secretary of the BJP.
