Smriti Irani on her parent’s separation, facing financial constraints as a child: ‘They had Rs 100 in their pocket and…’

Actor-turned-politician Smriti Irani has opened up about her parents separation and has revealed that it took her 40 years to finally speak about their separation. Smriti, who’s father is a Punjabi-Khatri and mother is a Bengali-Brahmin, said that in those days their marriage didn’t find acceptance.

In an interview with Neelesh Misra, Smriti said, “”It took me 40 years to say that my parents got separated. In those days, we were looked down upon, but now I know how tough it was for them to figure out life with just Rs 100 in their pocket and take care of all of us. My dad used to sell books outside an Army club. I used to sit with him, and my mother sold spices going to different homes. My dad didn’t study much, while my mother graduated so those conflicts could have also been there.”

 

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She added, “When they got married, they only had Rs 150. Initially, they used to live in a room above a cow’s shed. Very few couples are able to survive the constraints of finance and social friction.”

Also read | Smriti Irani thought ‘I don’t even know who you are’ after Ekta Kapoor boasted about her wealth, promised to make her a star

Smriti also revealed that her mother, Shibani, paid her rent for the house she gifted her. She recalled her mothers wish and said, “We can’t take anything from our daughters, but I can share my wish that if I die I want to die in my own house.” The politician then said, “My mother has lived all her life on rent. Six years back, I bought a house. My mother gives me Rs 1 rent so that her self respect is intact.”