Smriti Irani

I never used gender as my crutch. Many women don't use gender as a crutch.

In politics, during my organisational roles, I have never seen gender bias within my organisation.

Let me very proudly say that as a television actor, I never, ever saw any gender bias.

Industry people do know when a PR movement plays out. The issue is that it is an insult to our intelligence when those who are doing the PR thing presume that we are not wiser.

If you teach a girl, you are not just imparting education to a woman but to a family that will later help in nation building.

I don't know if many people know that one of the first jobs that I wanted and I lined up for was cabin crew at Jet. I was rejected because I was told I don't have a good personality. Thank God for your rejection. After that, I got a job at McDonald's, and the rest is history.

As I heard out people who had done others wrong, I'd often wonder how a human allows his or her better judgement to override their conscience. When I share these feelings with my friends, they say, 'Everyone isn't like you.' But I think it's easy to assert your better feelings and not allow the darker side to dominate your personality.

Every Indian has a right to take part in politics. Why not me?

I can't speak for the rest, but I think the little India all of us carry in our hearts should be good enough for us individually to take a step to help ensure that same freedom and justice that our constitution guarantees is given to all.

I was born in a free country, which seeked to encourage freedom and justice for all. I want to be a part of that process, just like any other Indian.

Multilingualism in our nation extends back to several millennia. This multilingualism is an asset, a heritage we have inherited, and is, in fact, a resource we deeply cherish.

I've done shows like 'Kuchh Dil Se,' which was a talk show on socio-political economic issues. So I do do a variety of stuff, but I think 'Kyunki' gets the most limelight.