Smriti Irani Says Her Life Mirrors ‘Agneepath’: ‘My Mother Was Thrown Out For Not Having A Son’

Smriti Irani recently shared that her drive to succeed was born out of childhood trauma and a desire to fight injustice faced by her mother.

Drawing parallels to the lead character in the film Agneepath, Smriti Irani said she sees herself in that narrative.

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From gracing television screens to taking on one of the highest political offices in the country, Smriti Irani has worn many hats. Smriti Irani recently shared that her drive to succeed was born out of childhood trauma and a desire to fight injustice faced by her mother. Speaking to Karan Johar on 'Mojo Story', the Union Minister and former actor said her life’s journey has moved from 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' to 'Agneepath', a shift from love to vengeance.

Smriti Irani says her mother was expelled for not bearing a son

In a recent conversation with filmmaker Karan Johar for Mojo Story, Smriti offered a rare glimpse into the emotional fuel that has powered her ambition. When asked what song best describes her life, she said, “It would move from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai to Agneepath.” Explaining the drastic shift in tone, she added, “I am avenging possibly every kid who never had an opportunity to equally compete.”

Drawing parallels to the lead character in the film Agneepath, Smriti said she sees herself in that narrative — a child fighting against odds to restore her mother’s dignity.

“Agneepath was about a son who was trying to fulfill his mother’s desire. He thought that his mother has faced injustice and I always felt that for my own mother. My mother was made to leave home when I was 7 because she could not have a son. So for me, that was my Agneepath, to get my mother back and give a roof over her head,” she shared.

When Smriti Irani bought a house for her mother

In a previous interview with Neelesh Misra, Smriti had opened up about her modest beginnings. Her father once sold books outside an army club, often with little Smriti sitting beside him. Her mother, a graduate, sold homemade spices door to door.

“My dad didn’t study much, while my mother graduated so those conflicts could have also been there. When they got married, they only had Rs 150. Initially, they used to live in a room above a cow’s shed. Very few couples are able to survive the constraints of finance and social friction,” she recalled.

The financial strain was compounded by emotional turmoil when her parents eventually separated, something Smriti said she struggled to accept for years.

Despite these hardships, Smriti held on to one dream: to buy her mother a home of her own. And she did.

“My mother has lived all her life on rent. Six years back, I bought a house. My mother gives me one rupee rent so that her self-respect is intact,” she said.