Smriti Malhotra–Irani

Some years ago, Smriti Malhotra-Irani made her debut as a wide-eyed anchor on Star's Ooh La La. Today, she is a huge star on the same channel.

Smriti aka Tulsi, the bahu of the runaway hit soap Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, won the Indian Television Award for Best Actress. Viewers are fascinated by the way she wins the affection of her hostile mother-in-law, becomes a friend and confidante to her husband's cousins, tries to bring about harmony amongst the elder generation sisters-in-law, and above all, has a sweet relationship with the grandmother-in-law.

Smriti's mother (actress Tripti Misra) wanted her to be an IAS officer; her father wanted her to join his business. But she wanted to be an actress. In 1998, she entered the Miss India contest secretly. She did not win. Undeterred, she left her photographs at television companies.

Television producer Shobha Kapoor was impressed and asked her to meet daughter Ekta at Balaji Telefilms. The rest is history. Now with Ravi Chopra's Ramayan in her kitty, she is on top of the world.

The 26 year old has received film offers. But she has refused them all. Says she, "I am content doing television serials. The small screen has a far greater reach and is becoming more powerful than films."

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