I am too young to play Ba: Smriti Irani

Though Ekta Kapoor is yet to find the new Tulsi for the much-talked changeover on June 7(Ekta's birthday) the hunt is on in Delhi and Chandigarh. According to Ekta there're 60,000 applications. But none to fill the bill.

The original Tulsi who'll now play Ba is oblivious of these developments. "I'll know about it when Ekta tells me. I haven't sat down with her to discuss the character's graph," she chuckles from Lucknow. She has been travelling in Bengal, Tamil Nadu and UP in connection with my BJP activities.

Smriti has been bombarded by queries about her supposedly spoilt relations with her Kyunki Saas… co-star Apara Mehta. "Here I am with so much to do…where do I have the time for fights and cold wars?

Really, I've nothing to say about this. Main apne kaam se matlab rakhene wali insaan hoon. I don't get into any controversy. Jo bhi yeh sab kar raha hai bhagwan uska bhala kare. I've no idea where it comes from.

I'd rather use my energies for my work than these absurd controversies. If I wasn't successful I wouldn't have been part of these controversies. And why would I get into any situation with Apara Mehta?

She's my senior. My contemporaries are Shweta Tiwari and Sakshi Tanwar. There's no parallels my career and Aparaji's. Jisko jo karne ki ichcha hai woh kare. Zindagi bahut choti hai."

Playing Ba is a challenge that Smriti is up to. "Of course I'm too young for the matriarch's role. But I look at the role as a compliment. I'm playing my age in my plays. It's during these straight-off interactions with the audience that one comes to know one's true level as an actor."

She's proud of her role as Ba and the impact it has made on the audience. "I never allow that image to impinge on my life. I know my so-called power would be over once Kyunkii Saas … is done.

When people ask for my advice I don't think I'm qualified for it. I want to lead my life on my own terms. I'd hate to thrust my ideas on others. Live and let live. That's why such controversies have no place in my life."

She's part actor, part politician, part mother. "Every working woman is a multi-tasker. I guess I'm blessed. The truth of television is the producer –director is king. Every actor is replaceable. I value the confidence in me.

Ekta had once said something valuable about me. She said she unconsciously chose an actress who was as close to Tulsi as possible. I identify completely with Tulsi except the fact that Tulsi tolerated another woman in her husband's life. I'd have walked out. None of us have Tulsi's patience. I wish I did."

As for playing Ba, Smriti is going to age accordingly. "I've no qualms about aging on screen. We's seen very glamorous actresses like Sharmila Tagore, Hema Malini, Rekha and even Karisma Kapoor turning grey. So it's no big deal.

Even Preity Zinta turned grey in Veer-Zara. Today's audience appreciates an actor's commitment. I don't put white in my hair to play Tulsi. But my whole body language suggests the character's age.

And the age always shows in the hands. Those are the first parts of your body that get worn out. Those are details I'd like to consider when aging further for the soap."

She ends with a note of positivity on the Apara Mehta matter. "I've always worked in a spirit of trust and friendship. I've made the Kyunkii…set my home away from home. I do get hurt when such talk happens. But I don't allow the hurt to show. Because I'm supposed to be such a ruthless lady."