In the Indian television industry, actor-turned-politician Smriti Irani became an iconic name with her character in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. Recently, Smriti shared how she got the lead role in the show and how much per-day salary she was getting at that time.
During a conversation with Curly Tales, she recalled how she was living in extremely difficult financial circumstances during that phase of her life.
“Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi didn’t happen because of personality,” she said. In the office of Ekta Kapoor, an astrologer saw Smriti from afar and asked them to stop her, she said.
“The astrologer’s name was Janardhan, and he said I would become a big star, I had gone there to sign a contract where I was going to play the role of someone’s sister,” Smriti said and added that she didn’t know Ekta was sitting behind a curtain with the pandit and he told Ekta “if you work with her, she is going to be a big face in the country.”
The minute the astrologer finished his sentence Ekta immediately came and asked her “What was I signing”, she added. As per the contract, she was getting paid around Rs 1200-1300 per day, Smriti revealed.
From McDonald’s to TV industry
“At that time I was doing a cleaner’s job at McDonald’s where I was getting paid Rs 1800 a month. So getting Rs 1200 a day was much better,” the BJP leader said.
Smriti remembered that as soon as Ekta Kapoor noticed what she was signing, she tore that contract, and decided to cast her as Tulsi Virani for Rs 1800/day. For the actor-turned-politician, this was a significant moment, as she was getting a month’s salary for one day’s work.
For her role in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Smriti Irani gained a lot of prominence. On Indian television, it was the longest-running show, and after her time in acting, Smriti went on to become a politician.