Article:Smriti:Not sorry for the break

T he actress-producer is sitting without any make up, with her Virrudh co-actresses Achint Kaur and Apara Mehta. They're discussing the positive feed- back that each one of them is receiv- ing on the show. But the TRPs seem to tell a different story. Smriti Z Iraani smiles wryly, "There seems to be some disparity between those who're giving us this feedback and the TRPs. We can only work towards making our product better." Time to chill If the Virrudh TRPs are bothering her, then the never-ending media reports about her break from Kyun- ki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi are only adding to her irritation. She sneers, "They keep writing something about me." When will she resume her shoot- ing for Kyunki..? She guffaws, "First, let me stop! I haven't yet gone on a break. In the seven years of Kyunkii.., this is the first time I've asked for a break." Did Ektaa Kapoor readily give in? "Ektaa understands me and my professionalism. She has given me my first break. She knows how com- mitted I am to Tulsi. Ektaa has seen how I resumed shooting a day after I got married and also after giving birth to my children. "Tulsi has made me what I am today, so there's no question of leav- ing the show or causing any heartache to anyone. But don't I deserve a break after seven years?" she asks. Is she possessive about the Tulsi role, considering she refuses to give up the show despite its gen- eration leaps and absurd storylines? "I'm not possessive about anything but my family. I've learnt to let go of things," she says, adding, "Kyunkii.., Virrudh and Thodi Si Zameen Tho- da Sa Aasman are equally important to me because I've experienced three different phases in my career with them." Producer speak Will she also take a break from her two home productions – Thodi Si.. and Virrudh? She informs, "A break is a break. But I will be seen in these two shows because we're working towards a bank of episodes. "Besides, these two shows are eas- ier to shoot because my unit mem- bers are very cooperative. My actors call me up to say, " We're free tomorrow. Do you want to shoot with us?" On a lighter note, she adds, "My husband and some of my co-stars have laid bets that I won't be able to survive my holiday for more than a day..knowing the workaholic that I am." What does Kapoor feel about Vir- rudh? She replies, "Ektaa has gone on record to say that she likes it. I think she feels proud of me just the way a mother does about her child making progress in her life." Happy with the progress of Tho- di Si Zameen.., Iraani remarks, "The show has survived changes in time slots. It has helped the channel (Star Plus) to establish its Sunday night slot. The slot has again been shifted to 11 p m to accommodate the new show Voice of India. "Thodi Si.. is doing well with the recent entry of Shveta Salve as a ruthless mall owner who wants to lay her hands on the chawl land." Iraani gears up to roll yet another show, this time for Zee Telugu. "It's called Boombalata, which means kathputli. The premise is that it's God who ultimately pulls all the strings. It's scheduled to go on air next month," she signs off.