Smriti Irani Biography Born on March 23, 1976 (pronounced in Hindi as “Smriti Zubin Irani,” née Malhotra) is an Indian politician who has also worked as an actress, fashion model, and television producer. She served as the first non-Muslim to fill the office of Minister of Minority Affairs from 2022 to 2025, as well as Minister of Women and Child Development from 2019 to 2025. Prior to this, she held the positions of Minister of Textiles from 2016 to 2021, Minister of Human Resource Development from 2014 to 2016, and Minister of Information and Broadcasting from 2017 to 2018. In the second administration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019, she was the youngest minister.
Smriti Irani Biography
India is home to numerous well-known politicians these days. Both men and women are actively involved in politics nowadays, with women holding a number of significant positions in Indian politics. Politicians in India are well-liked by the public because of their positive social impact. In this piece, we’ll discuss a successful politician, a well-known actress, and someone who has made significant contributions to society’s well-being. We will discuss Smriti Irani today.
In Indian politics and the media, Smriti Irani is a household name. The fact that Smriti Irani was a successful producer and actress before entering politics is not widely known today. These days, very few people are unfamiliar with Smriti Irani. She achieved success in her acting profession in a similar manner to her political career. Since May 2019, she has served as the Minister of Women and Child Development in the Indian Union Cabinet. Additionally, she served as India’s Minister of Textiles and Education prior to this. Not to mention, she is a minister in the Union Cabinet and an Amethi member of parliament.
Smriti Irani Biography Details
| Born |
Smriti Malhotra
23 March 1976 (age 48)
New Delhi, Delhi, India |
| Political party |
Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Spouse |
|
| Children |
3 |
| Residence(s) |
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Occupation |
- Politician
- actress (former)
|
| Category |
Biography |
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Who is Smriti Irani?
Smriti Zubin Irani is an Indian politician and former actress, fashion model and television producer. She has been Minister of Women and Child Development since 2019, and also Minister of Minority Affairs since 2022.
Born: 23 March 1976 (age 48 years), New Delhi
Spouse: Zubin Irani (m. 2001)
Children: Zoish Irani, Zohr Irani
Education: Holy Child Auxilium School, School of Open Learning, University of Delhi
Party: Bharatiya Janata Party
Awards: STAR Parivaar Award for Favourite Patni, MORE
Nominations: STAR Parivaar Award for Favourite Patni
Early life
Her name at birth was Smriti Malhotra. Her parents were Bengali Hindu Shibani née Bagchi and her father, Ajay Kumar Malhotra, was part Punjabi and half Maharashtrian. Out of her three sisters, she is the oldest. Her grandfather was connected to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, while her mother belonged to the Jana Sangh.Smriti received her education at the Catholic nun-run Holy Child Auxilium School in New Delhi. She later enrolled at the University of Delhi’s School of Open Learning. She disclosed in 2019 that she had taken the institution’s first-year B.Com. exams but had not finished the three-year program.
Acting career
Irani joined Miss India 1998, but didn’t reach the top 9. She started acting in 2000 on Star Plus. In 2002, she acted in Zee TV’s Sita. Irani won many awards for her role in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. She co-produced Thodi Si Zameen Thoda Sa Aasmaan in 2006 and acted in it. Additionally, she produced and acted in Virrudh for Sony TV in 2007 and Mere Apne for 9X. She also had a supporting role in Teen Bahuraaniyaan on Zee TV.
Political career
In 2003, Irani became a part of the Bharatiya Janata Party. In 2004, she was designated as the Maharashtra Youth Wing’s vice-president. She ran an unsuccessful campaign against Kapil Sibal in the general elections that year for the 14th Lok Sabha, which were conducted in Delhi’s Chandni Chowk constituency. The Vajpayee government was shockingly defeated in that election. Irani pledged to fast until death until then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi resigned in December 2004, accusing him of being the reason behind the BJP’s electoral defeats. After the central leadership of the BJP threatened to take action against her, she withdrew this demand.
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Real Name & Profession
| Real Name |
Smriti Malhotra |
| Profession(s) |
Actress, Model, Politician |
Physical Stats & More
| Height (approx.) |
5‘ 7″ (170 cm) |
| Eye Colour |
Black |
| Hair Colour |
Black |
Politics
| Political Party |
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) |
| Political Journey |
2003: Joined BJP
2004: Contested the Lok Sabha Elections from Chandi Chowk in Delhi and lost to Congress candidate Kapil Sibal. The same year, she was absorbed as a Vice-President for the Maharashtra youth wing
2009: Campaigned for Vijay Goel’s candidature in New Delhi
2010: Appointed as the National Secretary of the party and was roped in as the President of the Mahila (women) wing for BJP
2011: Became a member of the Rajya Sabha from Gujarat
2014: Contested the Lok Sabha Elections against Rahul Gandhi in the Amethi Constituency and lost by 1,07,923 votes. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appointed her as the Minister of Human Resource Development in his cabinet
2016: In July, the Ministry of Human Resource Development was taken away from Irani, and she was given the Ministry of Textiles instead, in a cabinet reshuffle
2017: In July, she was handed the additional charge of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
2018: In May, the additional charge of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting was taken away from her and was given to Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore
2019: Contested the Lok Sabha Elections against Rahul Gandhi in the Amethi Constituency and won by a margin of 55,120 votes and became the Minister of Women and Child Development
2022: She was given the additional charge of the Ministry of Minority Affairs after Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi resigned from the Union Cabinet, a day before the completion of his Rajya Sabha term.
2025: Lost the Amethi Lok Sabha seat to Congress candidate Kishori Lal Sharma by a margin of 1,67,196 votes |
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TV Career
| Debut |
Video Song: Song “Boliyan” of the album “Saawan Mein Lag Gayi Aag” with Mika Singh in 1998
TV Serial: Aatish and Hum Hain Kal Aaj Aur Kal, both aired on Star Plus in 2000
TV Producer: Virrudh for Sony TV in 2007
TV Host: Yeh Hai Jalwa, a dance based reality show on 9X in 2008
Film (Actress): Amrita, a Bengali film in 2012 |
Personal Life
| Date of Birth |
23 March 1976 (Tuesday) |
| Age (as of 2025) |
48 Years |
| Birthplace |
New Delhi |
| Zodiac sign |
Aries |
| Signature |
|
| Nationality |
Indian |
| Hometown |
New Delhi, India |
| School |
Holy Child Auxilium School, New Delhi |
| College/University |
School of Open Learning, University of Delhi |
| Educational Qualification |
12th Pass
Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) first year from Delhi University’s School of Open Learning (did not complete the three-year degree course) |
| Religion |
Hinduism |
| Caste/Ethnicity |
Half-Punjabi half-Maharashtrian (from her father’s side)
Bengali-Assamese (from her mother’s side) |
| Address |
A-602, Neptune Apartments, Swami Samarth Nagar 4th Cross Lane, Lokhandwala Complex, Andheri West, Mumbai 400053 |
| Hobbies |
Doing Yoga, Listening to Music, Travelling, Playing Carrom |
| Controversies |
Her educational qualification became controversial in 2014 when she made contradictory claims regarding her educational degrees. In 2004, she claimed to have a degree in BA while in 2014 she claimed to have a degree in Commerce.
She was criticized for not taking appropriate action in the suicide case of a Dalit student of Hyderabad University, Rohit Vemula.
A number of central-university Vice Chancellors criticized Irani when she sacked two vice chancellors, during her tenure as HRD Minister.
In October 2014, a furor was created over her decision to replace German with Sanskrit as the third language in Kendriya Vidyalayas.
Management institutes i.e., IIMs were at the loggerheads with Irani when she cleared a clause to include the IIMs under the ambit of her ministry.
A number of bureaucrats left her ministry citing her high-handed way of functioning.
On 23 July 2022, the Indian National Congress demanded resignation of Union minister Smriti Irani after they alleged her daughter of running a restaurant bar in Goa “illegally.” They also accused her daughter of procuring the license of the bar “fraudulently” in the name of a deceased person. Later, Smriti Irani called thesese accusations “malicious” and said that her daughter Zoish was the target only because “her mother does press conferences against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.” She said, “The allegation that my daughter runs an illegal bar is malicious with the intent not only to assassinate her character but also to politically malign me. And to the Gandhi family, which directed that this press conference [by Congress] be held against my child, I tell you this, send Rahul Gandhi back to fight the Lok Sabha election in 2025 from Amethi and he will lose again. That is my promise as a BJP worker and as a mother to that 18-year-old. I will see them in the court of law.” |
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Relationships & More
| Marital Status |
Married |
| Marriage Date |
Year 2001 |
Family
| Husband/Spouse |
Zubin Irani (Businessman) |
| Children |
Son- Zohr Irani (Born in 2001)
Daughters- Zoish Irani (Born in 2003), Shanelle Irani (stepdaughter) (married to Arjun Bhalla) |
| Parents |
Father- Ajay Kumar Malhotra
Mother- Shibani Bagchi |
| Grandparents |
Smriti Irani’s paternal grandfather was Punjabi, and her paternal grandmother was Marathi. Her maternal grandfather was Bengali, while her maternal grandmother was Assamese. |
| Siblings |
Brother- Name Not Known
Sister(s)- Two Younger Sisters (Names Not Known) |
Favourites
| Cuisines |
Gujarati, Bengali |
| Food |
Macher Jhol Bhaat, Tomato Chutney, Jhinge Posto, Aloo Bhajaa, Ilish Machh Shorshe Diye, Pizza, Chocolates |
| Fruit |
Strawberry |
| Colour |
Blue |
| Actor(s) |
Dharmendra, Saif Ali Khan, Shah Rukh Khan |
| Actresses |
Rekha, Hema Malini |
| Politician(s) |
Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Narendra Modi |
| Sportsperson |
Mahendra Singh Dhoni |
| Films (Bollywood) |
Satte Pe Satta (1982), Mr. India (1987), Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988), Chandni (1989), Agneepath (1990), Khuda Gawah (1992), Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) |
| Films (Hollywood) |
Avenger Series, The Shawshank Redemption (1994), The Usual Suspects (1995), The Godfather (Triology) |
| Cartoon Show |
Tom and Jerry |
| Film Director |
Shekhar Kapur |
| Book(s) |
‘Animal Farm’ by George Orwell, ‘Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah’ by Richard Bach |
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Style Quotient
| Assets/Properties |
Movable: Rs. 3.83 Crore (as in 2019)
Immovable: Rs. 7.28 Crore (as in 2019) |
Money Factor
| Salary (as a Member of Parliament) |
Rs. 1 Lakh + Other Allowances (as in 2019) |
| Net Worth (approx.) |
Rs. 11.11 Crore (as in 2019) |
Smriti Irani Images
