Smriti Irani is anything but retiring, not at 49. The erstwhile Union Minister and BJP stalwart, noted for her hot-headed political life and legendary television avatar of Tulsi in *Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi*, is causing ripples with her television comeback while firmly rejecting any idea of retirement from politics. In a recent interview with India Today TV on July 24, 2025, it was very apparent that the Irani spirit, liveliness and total defiance of age-based stereotypes thoroughly ruled over her unforgiving pursuit of rewriting her legacy.
“Who retires at 49?” Irani joked as she waved off the notion of slowing down. She pointed toward a life change – three tenures in the MP and ministerial stints in five departments- something many can only dream about now. Her return to acting, reprising Tulsi in a reboot of the iconic soap, isn’t a retreat from politics but a bold embrace of her multifaceted identity.
Her words, which radiated a refusal to be confined to a single role, read, “I do not believe in living a small life.” Irani’s identity is still rooted in her political career, which was capped off by her incredible victory over Rahul Gandhi in Amethi in 2019. Although she lost to Congress’s KL Sharma in the same constituency in 2024, she oozes confidence, stating she would have “absolutely” won if Gandhi had stood against her. Her evasive answer regarding contesting Amethi in 2029—”I cannot predict what the party will decide”—suggestions of not wavering in loyalty to the BJP while keeping her ambitions open.
She also made it clear that she was never approached to contest the 2025 Delhi assembly elections, when the BJP dislodged AAP, and was working instead on her proven credentials as an MP.
Her comeback to television, according to her, is a decision—”Meri marzi”—a manifestation of her attitude of living life on her own terms. But even Irani accepts the jibes accompanying her celebrity victory over Gandhi, who is a badge of honor to her. Instead of going back, she sees both her roles in politics and television as parallel, a reflection of her faith that age is not a limitation to starting anew.
