Smriti Irani

“Let me very proudly say that as a television actor, I never, ever saw any gender bias.”

“In politics, during my organisational roles, I have never seen gender bias within my organisation.”

“Karan Thapar is aggression personified.”

“I am a living example of PM Modi's tolerance... he forgave me though I publicly attacked him.”

“I have my idea of India... don't demean it.”

“People understand when you talk to them person to person, at an equal level. I tell them what I can do and what I cannot, and they tell me, 'Didi, we know you don't lie.'”

“I don't know if many people know that one of the first jobs that I wanted and I lined up for was cabin crew at Jet. I was rejected because I was told I don't have a good personality. Thank God for your rejection. After that, I got a job at McDonald's, and the rest is history.”

“For me, I have never walked a path that has been carefully crafted or charted. I have gone into territory unknown on many an occasion.”

“To an actor, what is most satisfying is that you perform your role as naturally and that people enjoy it, and more importantly, you enjoy it.”

“I think when somebody wants to work diligently, when somebody wants to take away the cobwebs and see where attention is needed, to fix things, there is obviously going to be a backlash from those who have, for years, gained from status quo.”

“You can't stop trusting people just because of a few people.”

“As a politician, I engage with all kinds of opinions irrespective of whether they are in the media or not.”

“It is a tragedy when you pay to make a public broadcaster survive.”

“Fiscal prudence is very important.”

“Legislation has a certain jurisdiction. It can't change mindsets and hearts.”

“I am lucky to be part of a 'Kyunki.' Not every actor gets a chance to be part of a successful television show.”

“I have a legacy which I carry from my media career. That is why you will find that everybody will have an opinion about me.”

“As I heard out people who had done others wrong, I'd often wonder how a human allows his or her better judgement to override their conscience. When I share these feelings with my friends, they say, 'Everyone isn't like you.' But I think it's easy to assert your better feelings and not allow the darker side to dominate your personality.”

“I am so busy with my family and my serials I don't get time to watch other serials.”

“Our country has a capacity to cater to huge demands, both domestic and overseas.”