Smriti Irani: The return of giant slayer

Smriti Irani is a giant slayer, who hardened her political skills as a member of the BJP and in a battle of David vs Goliath, defeated Congress president Rahul Gandhi from his family stronghold Amethi.

And the party rewarded Smriti Irani with a ministerial berth in the Union Council of ministers. Irani took oath as a minister at the swearing-in ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday where Narendra Modi took an oath for the second innings as Prime Minister.

From being one of the most popular faces on the small screen to taking on Rahul Gandhi in a high-profile Lok Sabha poll battle in Amethi, Smriti Irani has come a long way. She was inducted in the Narendra Modi ministry in 2014 to representing a crowning glory in her political career.

Having acquired fame as a TV actress in “saas-bahu" soap opera, Irani continued to under spotlight after she switched over from TV to politics and fought two tough electoral battles - against Rahul Gandhi from Amethi in 2014 and Congress heavyweight Kapil Sibal from Chandni Chowk in Delhi in 2004.

Irani has earlier served as national president of Bharatiya Janata Party's women's wing.

She was born in Delhi and had her education in New Delhi before shifting to Mumbai wher she became a household name because of her role in the TV serial Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. Married to businessman Zubin Irani and having one son and a daughter, Smriti Irani lists reading as her past-time.