MAM
Smriti Z Irani on CNN-IBN’s ‘Being’s at 8 p.m. on 25 February
“I would love to be the Devil’s Advocate and sit and corner Pranab Mukherjee” – Smriti Z Irani
New Delhi, February 24, 2006: Think television soaps in India and one of the first names that comes to mind is Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. Launched on the same day as Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) in 2000, the show outlived KBC and was the center of attention for millions of viewers.
The epicenter of this familiar, familial melodrama, Smriti Irani hooked a generation of housewives to television. But there’s more to Smriti Irani than being Tulsi. She balances a political career, a family and children, produces plays and manages a hectic acting schedule. From working at McDonald’s, to getting rejected because she didn’t look like the typical Indian housewife, everybody’s favorite agony aunt tells us what it’s like BEING Smriti Irani Only on CNN IBN, Saturday 25th February 20:30pm & Sunday 26th February 15:30pm.
Excerpts from the interview:
“I would genuinely trade my job any day to run behind and get breaking news through. I would love to be a part of your Lakshmi Narayan Mittal exclusive, I would love to be the Devil’s Advocate and sit and corner Pranab Mukherjee, I almost thought that Karan had it that day. I would love to do what you did with the Bofor’s case. Just be there, hunt, investigate, it almost sounds like a fantasy. It’s the rush of discovering something that’s hidden under so many layers”
“I was in an environment (in Delhi) where it was easy to accept rejection. I was constantly told that’s its not my cup of tea .I realized it’s the environment that’s propelling me towards a different destiny. That’s why I left. I have faced rejection from the day I stepped into Mumbai, from not winning the Ms India crown, to missing out so many auditions, to being rejected for an ad for home appliances because I didn’t look like an Indian housewife. So many people told Ekta Kapoor she’s out of her mind if she wanted to caste me .I mean rejection is not something new. I lost my first election. I would in fact take it as a sign of a new beginning because I’m in an environment where everybody that I know is not the type to give up easily.
‘I have stepped out of the comfort zone. Its not an easy thing to do but the biggest burden of Being Tulsi is the constant criticism that comes along with my job. I have from day one been the poster child for all the flak for all saas-bahu soaps and its not easy trying to maintain ones sense of balance or politeness through it all and let the critics get away’.
“If you look at how soaps began post ‘Kyunki saas bhi….’, there were so many that came into being where the marketing strategy was “It’s different from the ‘saas- bahu’ soaps”. There were so many actors that came to the surface whose entire interview revolved around that one quote –” I don’t do saas- bahu”. But ironically most of them revolved and came about and started doing saas- bahu on their own because I think somewhere the realization came that it was not selling on the basis of that “we are different factor” .At the end of the day we are at of the entertainment business, channels have got caught in the revenue net. Today for a channel the viability of a project is much more important than the message I’m trying to give”.
“I think he (Narendra Modi) has changed a lot of peoples opinion through his administrative work .I have spoken to him. He’s extremely gracious and I’m in touch with him. He was extremely gracious in letting a lot of things go and extremely gracious as not to comment on what I said. I think that’s one part that everyone has to accept. He never said a word about me. It says a lot about the man. He’s willing to be prosecuted for any crimes that courts might decide against him that’s says a lot about somebody who is sitting in a seat of power”
GBN, a TV18 Group Company, is a 74:26 joint venture between the TV18 Group and professionals – Rajdeep Sardesai, Sameer Manchanda and Haresh Chawla. GBN’s charter is to launch channels in the general news space under the editorial leadership of Sardesai, one of India’s most reputed TV journalists. The TV18 Group is India’s leading and most successful business news broadcaster, in both English and Hindi.
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For more information contact:
Prachi / Priyadarshani
Hanmer & Partners
New Delhi
011 2921 4793/ 4
MAM
BLR Airport Launches ‘Connections’ Service to Ease Transit Travel
New initiative targets smoother transfers as Bengaluru hub traffic rises 30 per cent.
MUMBAI: Missed connections may be a traveller’s nightmare but Bengaluru is trying to make them a thing of the past. Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru (BLR Airport) has rolled out ‘Connections by BLR’, a new transfer programme designed to take the friction out of connecting journeys. Built around three pillars ease, efficiency and experience,the initiative aims to simplify what is often the most stressful leg of air travel.
The move comes as transfer traffic at BLR Airport climbs sharply, up more than 30 per cent year-on-year. Transfers currently account for around 15 per cent of total passenger traffic and are projected to touch 20 per cent by 2026, signalling a clear shift in how the airport is positioning itself within airline networks.
At its core, the programme focuses on making navigation intuitive and downtime more comfortable. Dedicated transfer desks have been set up across terminals, supported by colour-coded wayfinding blue and yellow signage designed for quick recognition. Inter-terminal movement is being streamlined through complimentary shuttle services with predictable wait times, while designated transfer zones aim to reduce passenger confusion.
Beyond logistics, the airport is leaning into experience. Travellers in transit now have access to a wider choice of lounges, curated retail and food and beverage options, as well as sleeping pods for short stays. For longer layovers, transit hotels in both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 offer boutique in-terminal accommodation, an increasingly sought-after feature as global travel patterns evolve.
The timing is strategic. BLR Airport now connects to 114 passenger destinations 80 domestic and 34 international with key routes spanning Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Pune domestically, and Singapore, London Heathrow, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Kuala Lumpur internationally. Recent additions such as Hindon, Bidar and Silchar within India, alongside Dammam, Hanoi and Riyadh overseas, are further expanding its reach.
Infrastructure is also catching up with ambition. Developments including the West Cross Taxiway, Terminal 1 refurbishment and Terminal 2 expansion are laying the groundwork for higher capacity and smoother operations critical for any airport aiming to become a serious transfer hub.
Bangalore International Airport Limited chief operating officer Girish Nair framed the initiative as both a response to demand and a forward-looking play. He pointed to the growing depth of the airport’s network and the opportunity to build a more reliable transfer ecosystem that benefits both passengers and airline partners.
In an era where travel is as much about transitions as destinations, BLR Airport is betting that a seamless connection might just be the journey’s most important upgrade.
