Ba se babe tak!

Smriti Irani plays a 20-something in a forthcoming TV serial.

After essaying the role of Tulsi and Ba with ease, Smriti will be seen in an all-new avataar in a soap that goes on air next month.

In a role inspired by Ritwik Ghatak's immortal film Meghe Dhaka Tara, Smriti plays Uma, a working-class girl who's reached marriageable age. The show deals with Uma's fears and challenges as people taunt her for not being married.

"Finally, I can play a character that's closer to my age. However, people are unsure about my age after seeing me play a 70-year-old in Kyunkii Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. Will I be accepted as a young woman after playing Ba? If the channel had any doubts they wouldn't have approved my second serial," says Smriti. According to the channel's Shailaja Kejriwal, the role has been tailor-made for Smriti.

"Although realistic, this serial will have the Ekta Kapoor twist," she says. "It is contemporary in theme, characterisation and dialogue. But a creative work is like the Russian Roulette. You never know how the audience will react."

Smriti is hopeful. "My reality-driven talk-show Kucch Dil Se was successful. It didn't have melodrama. Nobody expected the 'bahu' to discuss controversial subjects like homosexuality and AIDS. We'll soon find out if my new experiment with truth works out or not," she says.