When Shah Rukh Khan told Smriti Irani not to get married, saying "Main bata raha hoon tujhe mat karna shaadi..."

Smriti Irani and Shah Rukh Khan

Smriti Irani's path took an unexpected diversion through Bollywood before she became a household name in every Indian home, first as a television personality and then as a politician.

Some genuinely remarkable moments, including a charmingly cheeky piece of advice from none other than Shah Rukh Khan, are hidden within those early days.

In a recent chat with Mashable India, Smriti looked back fondly on her early interactions with the film world — experiences made possible thanks to her husband, Zubin Irani, who had connections in the industry. It was through him that she first met Shah Rukh, and their first conversation left quite the impression.

“I met Shah Rukh courtesy of my husband," Smriti recalled. “He knew him, so I would pester him many times to ask Shah Rukh for an interview. When I finally met him, the first thing he said was, ‘Listen, don’t get married. Main bata raha hoon tujhe, mat karna shaadi (I’m telling you, don’t get married).’ I told him, ‘Bhai, too late!’"

That witty back-and-forth captured not only Shah Rukh’s effortless charm but also Smriti’s natural humour — something that has stayed with her through every chapter of her career.

Digging deeper into her early days, she shared a sweet memory from her very first time on a film set — again connected to Shah Rukh. “There was a movie with Shah Rukh and Juhi Chawla that Aziz Mirza had done. That was my first shot ever, and I was just a silhouette," she said.

She laughed as she remembered wearing the same black dress Manisha Koirala wore in Akele Hum Akele Tum’s song ‘Raja Ko Rani Se Pyaar Ho Gaya’. “They told me to wear the dress and just stand there. That was my first time facing the camera."

But perhaps the most amusing memory of all was her first meeting with legendary screenwriter Salim Khan. “At St. Xavier’s, Salman and my husband were classmates. So the first time Zubin took me to meet Salman, Salim Khan was there. He said, ‘Tumko malum hai tumhare miyan sahab mere bete ke saath kya karte the? They used to steal my car and drive off. Nikamme hai dono!’”

Caught completely off guard, Smriti could only laugh in hindsight. “I didn’t know where to look!” she admitted.

Smriti Irani recently made a comeback on television with Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi Reeboot.