Smriti Zubin Irani was born as Smriti Malhotra. She is an Indian politician, former model, television actress and producer. Smriti Irani was born in Delhi and is the eldest of 3 sisters. She has been a part of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) from childhood as her grandfather was an RSS Swayamsevak. Smriti Irani passed class 12 from Holy Child Auxilium School in New Delhi. Photos/Smriti Irani Instagram and YouTube

In one of her interviews, Smriti Irani was quoted as saying that she started earning after her 10th standard. Smriti Irani used to earn Rs. 200 for promoting a beauty product. But determined to chart her own destiny Smriti broke free of the norms and decided to try her luck in the glamour world

In one of her interviews, Smriti Irani was quoted as saying that she started earning after her 10th standard. Smriti Irani used to earn Rs. 200 for promoting a beauty product. But determined to chart her own destiny Smriti broke free of the norms and decided to try her luck in the glamour world

In 1998, Smriti Irani featured in a music album titled 'Boliyan' of the album 'Saawan Mein Lag Gayi Aag' with Mika Singh

In 1998, Smriti Irani featured in a music album titled 'Boliyan' of the album 'Saawan Mein Lag Gayi Aag' with Mika Singh

Smriti Irani participated in the beauty pageant Miss India 1998, along with Gauri Pradhan Tejwani. Gauri Pradhan is in the extreme right in the photo. The 1998 Miss India contest in which Smriti Irani contested was won by Lymaraina D'Souza. Smriti Irani couldn't reach the finals of the contest but fate took her to Mumbai, the entertainment capital of the country, where she joined McDonald's Bandra outlet to support herself while auditioning for work in showbiz

Lady luck was smiling on her and Smriti Irani was called to replace actress Neelam Kothari to host an episode of 'Ooh La La La'. She got that episode and was noticed by producer Ekta Kapoor, and the rest, as they say, is history

In mid-2000, Smriti Irani won the lead role of Tulsi Virani in Ekta Kapoor's production 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi' on Star Plus. She won five consecutive Indian Television Academy Awards for Best Actress (Popular), four Indian Telly Awards

In mid-2000, Smriti Irani won the lead role of Tulsi Virani in Ekta Kapoor's production 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi' on Star Plus. She won five consecutive Indian Television Academy Awards for Best Actress (Popular), four Indian Telly Awards

Grabbing the opportunity, Smriti Irani's popularity soared so high that she became the most popular 'bahu' of the small screen. While playing a perfect 'bahu' on the small screen, Smriti Irani settled down with her childhood friend Zubin Irani

Grabbing the opportunity, Smriti Irani's popularity soared so high that she became the most popular 'bahu' of the small screen. While playing a perfect 'bahu' on the small screen, Smriti Irani settled down with her childhood friend Zubin Irani

Smriti Irani is pictured alongside the late Vinod Khanna in a throwback picture. Smriti Irani also produced 'Mere Apne' for 9X and portrayed the protagonist alongside Vinod Khanna

In 2001, Smriti Irani played the epic character Sita in Zee TV's 'Ramayan'

In 2001, Smriti Irani played the epic character Sita in Zee TV's 'Ramayan'

Smriti Irani also produced TV shows under her banner Ugraya Entertainment, feeding family viewing audiences with entertainers like 'Thodi Si Zameen Thoda Sa Aasmaan' and 'Virrudh' in 2006 and 2007 respectively

Smriti Irani also produced TV shows under her banner Ugraya Entertainment, feeding family viewing audiences with entertainers like 'Thodi Si Zameen Thoda Sa Aasmaan' and 'Virrudh' in 2006 and 2007 respectively

Smriti Irani reportedly had a fallout with her 'Kyunkii... producer Ekta Kapoor but then they later made up and are now friends once again

Smriti Irani reportedly had a fallout with her 'Kyunkii... producer Ekta Kapoor but then they later made up and are now friends once again

In 2001, Smriti married Zubin Irani, a Parsi businessman and her childhood friend

In October the same year, Smriti Irani and Zubin Irani had their first child, son Zohr

In September 2003, Smriti Irani and Zubin Irani had their second child, daughter Zoish. Smriti Irani is also a stepmother to Shanelle who is Zubin Irani's daughter from his previous marriage

Smriti Irani decided to plunge into politics while pursuing acting, and her dedication and determination took her places

In 2004, Smriti Irani was accused of providing contradictory affidavits about her educational qualifications during different elections. Smriti Irani's degrees were caught in a row after a petitioner alleged she had given contradictory information in her affidavits filed before contesting elections in 2004, 2011 and 2014

After holding important positions like the national secretary of the party and All India President of the BJP Mahila Morcha in 2010, Smriti Irani became BJP's vice-president. Though the party had other actresses too as members, it was the articulate and uncomplaining Smriti who rose above the challenges

Smriti Irani is a Member of Parliament, being elected to the Rajya Sabha from the state of Gujarat. Smriti Irani had lost to Rahul Gandhi in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls in Amethi but was seen to have put up a spirited fight. In a massive victory, she won against Rahul Gandhi in the 2019 general elections in the Amethi constituency

Smriti Irani's political journey is best described in her own words - she once said that she has an 'ideological umbilical cord with the BJP. We are three generation party supporters. My grandfather was a swayamsevak, my mother a BJP booth activist'