One of the most popular career transitions one has ever seen is of the multi-talented, Smriti Irani. After starting off her career as a model, followed by carrying out odd jobs at a restaurant to becoming a top-notch daily soap actress, she has indeed donned quite a few hats. And currently, she is also chairing the role of a full-time season politician. However, her personal life is something which has never garnered so much limelight. The actress is happily married to the man of her dreams and a Parsi businessman, Zubin Irani. Let us take a look at this couple’s humble love story!
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Smriti Irani started off her career towards the glamour world by stepping towards modelling. By the age of 16, she was sporty enough to take on the hard way and try her luck in plays and theatre work in Mumbai. It was at that particular time when she was roped into modelling and was selected for the Miss World pageant, and had made it to the Top 5 participants. It was precisely this time when she was introduced to her future husband-to-be, Zubin Irani who was a top-notch Parsi businessman at that time.
Well, as many would think at this point that it was a case of love at first sight for the duo, sadly it was not so. While Smriti was struggling to make ends meet for herself at this point, she had to take up an odd job of cleaning the floors of restaurants for that extra money. It was then, when she befriended a Parsi girl, Mona Irani. Gradually, Smriti, Mona and Zubin became regular friends and met each other frequently. However, things changed a bit when Mona fell in love with Zubin and the duo got married. While it didn’t make Smriti feel any change of emotions, nevertheless, she left the couple and started living separately.
Days had gone by after this encounter, and Smriti was doing pretty good in her newly found world of television shows. At this point, the past rekindled it's way back to her life and she got to know that her friends, Mona and Zubin had parted ways amicably. This led to Smriti reconnecting with Zubin and old friendships were brought to the surface again.
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After getting to know each other a little too well, the former best friends decided to take their relationship a notch higher and decided to get married. There was certainly no awkwardness to be felt between the duo as they both knew Zubin’s past marriage and were alright in accepting it. Thereafter, when Zubin shared a special proposal of marriage to Smriti’s mother, Shibani, they immediately accepted their relationship. Finally, the duo got married in March 2001 in a traditional Bengali wedding according to the roots of Smriti's mother. In an interview many years after her marriage, Smriti Irani had opened up about her decision to marry Zubin and had elaborated on how she needed him in her life. In her words:
“I married Zubin because I needed him. I was consulting him, talking to him and meeting him every day. So we said why not marry and be best friends as well as a married couple. Both my parents and his agreed to our marriage and blessed us. I would never dream of marrying against the wishes of my parents because I believe strongly that hurting parents causes unhappiness and destruction for the couple."
Within the same year of their marriage, the couple got promoted as parents and they welcomed their baby boy, Zohr. After two years in 2003, the couple completed their family with the arrival of their baby girl, Zoish. Moreover, Smriti also made sure that she and her children bonded well with Zubin’s daughter, Shanelle from his first marriage with Mona.
As mentioned earlier, Zubin’s ex-wife, Mona was Smriti’s best friend as well. However, after Mona divorcing Zubin and Smriti thereafter getting married to him, caused no awkwardness between the once best friends. In an interview, Smriti had revealed that she still maintains cordial relations with not only Mona, but also considers her step-daughter, Shanelle as her own. In her words:
“I’m lucky to have Zubin, who is an asset to me. People are surprised that my marriage is so successful despite his earlier divorce. But I’m friends with Mona, his ex-wife and their daughter Shanelle. Their differences are none of my business. My life with him and the two children are my business and I want to do my best."
Contrary to her much talked-about television career, seldom do people know that Smriti had been an active participant in politics all along. From a young age, Smriti was a member of RSS, by follwing in the footsteps of her grandfather, who was an active swayamsevak of the RSS party. Thereafter, Smriti formally joined the Bharatiya Janta Party in 2003. However, it was only in 2011 that she gained massive fame and popularity through her political career after she was elected as the member of the parliament from Gujarat. Currently, the actor-turned-poilitician is the Union Cabinet Minister of Women and Child Development in India.
However, all this journey to reach the top would not have been possible without the unconditional love and support of her dear husband, Zubin Irani. Not only did he time and again boost her morale up for working towards the good of the nation, but also stood as a strong pillar of strength for whatever decisions and acheivements she embarked upon. Moreover, Zubin has made sure to be a part of his wife's political activities thereby proving that he is in equal footing with her all the time.
Smriti Irani shares a spectacular bond with her step-daughter, Shanelle Irani, which proves that love does exceed blood ties. While the doting step-mother doesn't shy away from showering equal love on all three of her children, there was a time when Smriti had proved that her love for Shanelle superceeds everthing else. Well, it was when Shanelle tied the knot with her beau, Arjun Bhalla, Smriti became the over-excited parent who had arranged everything for her daughter's lavish wedding ceremony in Rajasthan. From welcoming the baraatis, crying happy tears during the varmala to posing with the guests at her reception, her emotions conveyed it all. Moreover, prior to the wedding, Smriti had even shared a heart warming glimpse from her daughter's dreamy proposal and had penned a long note, which not only conveyed her emotional feelings, but also a happy warning for her son-in-law to be a part of the family. The note could be read as:
"To the man who now has our heart @arjun_bhalla welcome to our mad cap family.. bless you for you have to deal with a crazy man for a father in law & worse .. me for a Saas … (you have been officially warned) God bless."
Fast forward to today, with all their kids grown up, Smriti and Zubin are enjoying the phase of growing old with one another. Although both Smriti and Zubin are busy with their professional commitments, they do take out time for one another, and lead a happy family. Moreover, they also sneak out often for travelling and visit many different places with each other.
What do you think about Smriti and Zubin’s simple love story?
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