Is Smriti Irani leaving her parent-show Kyunkii Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi? In an interview with Subhash K Jha she puts all doubts to rest.

Q: Another controversy rears it head...
A: So it does. I must be the one actor with the largest number of controversies to my discredit. This is highly irresponsible journalism. Balajee is a public-ltd company. Star is such a highly rated channel.

And Kyunkii .... is the highest revenue earner for Balajee and Star. Such false information puts everyone in a spot. How can one particular reporter quoting one particular invisible source be the reason for so much stress?

Q: Does it bother you?
A: Honestly, it hurts. For six years I've worked with Balajee and Star to get this show where it's started. My association with Star goes back to long before Kyunkii... I'm like a horse with blinkers. So I try not to get bothered with such talk.

Q: But why is there such a controversy about you every few months?
A: It all comes from one source. I don't know why. With my work-load and responsibilities I genuinely feel I don't need to react to such imaginary stories. Who are these 'sources' who claim I'm leaving Kyunkii.... How can I react to ghosts?

What's really surprising is that in all these six years doing Kyunkii, Shobha Kapoorji, Ekta and I meet behind closed doors with no fourth person in the room.

So how do people outside assume about what we talk? I guess even big stars aren't immune to speculative writing. So who am I?

Q: So who's responsible for the rumour that you're leaving Kyunkii ...?
A: Someone who's extremely keen to see me go.

Q: There's no Kyunkii Saas... without you?
A: Nothing and nobody is indispensable. But someone is trying desperately to break my six-year association with Kyunkii ...I don't allow myself to get pained by such ghost stories. My fans and audience do react, though.

Q: So once and for all you aren't leaving Kyunkii...?
A: I'm right now in a shoot with Balajee. So how can I leave? This entire controversy is so illogical. My character is supposed to be in Hardwar so how can I be shown in parts of the narrative that are located in Mumbai? Isn't that self-evident?

I don't even want to give credibility to these rumours by reacting. Anyone who's spreading this rumour genuinely needs a holiday. I don't think my talent can be held hostage by such rumours.

Q: It's said there's a dispute about you looking old in the serial?
A: If there was a dispute would I have agreed ? When I had spoken to you last I had told you that I had no problems aging according to the way the script goes. I must be the oldest-looking protagonist on any of the soaps.

Q: What about your other show with Balajee which you're co-producing ?
A: In it I play a girl called Uma who goes through tremendous hardship in life. I must thank my well-wishers for preparing me for this role. Jokes aside, my family channel and production house don't deserve this.

Adds Ekta Kapoor

"I really don't want to say anything about this. But yes Smriti is very much Baa. And she's shooting for us right now. And her other show which we're jointly co-producing is called Thodasa Aasman.

Why no 'K' title? Because this isn't my production alone. Thodasa Aasman goes on air on Star from 12 August. Kyunkii already features Smriti as the aged Baa.

So where's the question of her not wanting to age? The new Tulsi has been liked for her girl next-door personality. But the guy who plays her co-star has become a rage."