When Smriti Irani broke taboo around periods by doing a sanitary napkin ad; revealed, ‘It ensured death of glamour based career’ – Times of India

Smriti Irani, who started her career in showbiz as one of the participants in the beauty pageant, Miss India, has several brand advertisements to her credit. The former model-actress took to her Instagram a few months ago and shared one of them.

It was Smriti’s advertisement for a sanitary napkin brand which was quite a ‘taboo’ back in the day. Sharing the ad, Smriti revealed how many actors refrained from doing such ads in fear of not getting more work. However, Smriti took it on.
She wrote, “When your past ‘whispers’ ….25 years ago, my first ad ever for a big company. However, the subject was not a fancy one. Infact such was the product that many were averse to the assignment since a sanitary pad advertisement ensured the death of a glamour based career for the model involved.”

She further added, “Eager to start my stint in front of the camera I said yes ! After all, why should a conversation about menstrual hygiene be a taboo. Since then there has been ‘ no looking back ‘ 🥰#throwbackthursday 😎p.s— yes I was thin ..ye yaad dilane ki zaroorat nahi 🫤🤪.”
In the ad, Smriti can be seen saying, “Those 5 days, those 5 days…Like what?! Arrey, I have my periods yaar, not some disease. Every woman has it. Me, my mom, you, millions of other Indian women. There are things that can help us out now like sanitary pads. You know periods are God’s way of telling us you are older, you are wiser and you can carry life. So what’s this ‘those 5 days’ about it, haan?!

Smriti Irani, who is most known for playing the role of Tulsi Virani in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, was hailed by many for being part of the ad.
Besides her friends from the industry Mouni Roy, Aashka Goradia, Nisha Rawal, there’s a fan who lauded her and wrote, “Today many of us would do this ad easily. But yeah, I remember how taboo it was to talk about it in front of anyone then. So hats off to you for doing it then, and so well at that.”
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Smriti is now a member of Lok Sabha. She is Minister of Women and Child Development and also Minister of Minority Affairs.