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The idiot box might be getting revamped with daughters taking the centre stage replacing the saas-bahus, but the small screen's most successful daughter-in law, Smriti Irani believes it is just the same story with a new packaging.
Smriti, who is one of the most celebrated actors on television, shot to fame by portraying the obedient daughter-in-law of Virani family, Tulsi Virani in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, one of the longest running serials on TV.
But the content on the small screen has gone for a drastic change with the new crop of issue based serials like
Balika Vadhu, Sabki Ladli Bebo, Lado.
When asked about her views on the new breed of 'socially conscious' serials which have ended the reign of saas-bahu era, Smriti said, "I don't think anything has changed really. It's the same thing with new packaging. Just that the bahu has got younger and the saas thinner."
After being the queen of tear-jerker soap operas, the 38-year-old actress has reinvented herself with a new series called Maniben.com on Sab TV where she will be experimenting with comedy after a long time.
"Actually I began as a comedian, and that is how I was chosen for this role. In between, I had done a comedy role for a show called Kal Aajkal aur Kal on Doordarshan, so as they say, life comes a full circle," Smriti told PTI in an interview.
The actress, who dons the role of a Gujarati woman in the new serial, is confident tickle the funny bone of the viewers with her new avatar.
"Nothing is difficult for an actor, and I have not had any difficulty portraying any of the roles that I have played so far," Smriti said. "To an actor what is most satisfying is that you perform your role as naturally, and that people enjoy it and more importantly, you enjoy it," she added.
Smriti plays a happy-go-lucky character whose sole aim is to look after her family and the actress is excited to treat the audience with her charm.
"Even though her husband has achieved great success in the diamond business and moved into this swanky neighborhood, Maniben is somebody who does not leave her roots behind. Money does not fascinate her, and that is something peculiar about her," the actress said.
The descriptions sounds quite like her earlier role of selfless daughter-in-law Tulsi Virani and Smriti agrees that both characters have certain similarities.
"Maniben and Tulsi are similar in the sense that they are not fascinated by glamour, power, money. Both are extremely simplistic in their approach to life. Both are traditionalists. Both value their family more than anything else, so yes, they do have some similarities," she added.