After working in tear-jerkers and making a name for herself, television actress Smriti Irani has ventured into production and says she is ready to tell a good story if viewers are prepared to watch it.

It's been two years since Smriti's production company Ugraya went into theatre.

"We've been producing for theatre, then we moved to television. For me every production on TV has to be different from what I've done so far, and also from what audiences have been used to so far. My 'Thodisi Zameen Thodasa Aasman' might have a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law in it but the relationships, language and situations are purposely different," Smriti told IANS.

Smriti's new serial "Virrudh", which goes on air on Sony from January end or beginning of Feb, takes soaps to the next step. She has joined hands with writer Kamlesh Pandey who wrote the story of "Rang De Basanti".

"Normally, after a hit like 'Rang De Basanti', a writer would've done another big film. That Kamleshji is as committed to 'Virrudh' as to his movie projects shows how the home medium has grown. All my Actor - Sushant Singh, Vikram Gokhale, Achint Kaur, Ashwini Kalsekar, Govind Namdeo - are very choosy. They all immediately said yes."

Smriti herself plays a pivotal role.

"I play a woman of today in 'Virrudh'. She's able to draw a very fine balance between tradition and family. She isn't an ablaa nari (helpless woman) weeping at the drop of a hat. But she loves her family intensely and can go to any length for them. The cast is an amalgamation of the choicest and the best talents playing characters they're suited to play.

"Sony liked the story and we immediately started work. I've another project in the pipeline with Zee. It's very important for me to do quality work. The idea is to come up to the channel's requirements and yet do work that takes one away from the norm. By the end of 2007, we've five-six projects happening."

Smriti is very excited about the coming year.

"As a producer I've to be all there. From the cast to the crew to the set designs... they're all my responsibility. I feel once you've a good story on hand everything falls into place.

" 'Virrudh' will take me away from my image of the reclusive person. As a producer I was able to show my cast and crew that I'm not the unfriendly soul they've been hearing about. Seriously, I'm not the serious soul I'm perceived to be."

Smriti wouldn't be acting in all the serials she produces.

"But we'll have two new productions on air on Sony and Zee. You know, once upon a time there was only Doordarshan and everyone had to watch it. Today viewers have choices. And I want to provide a variety of soaps to choose from. At least as a creator, I'll sleep peacefully if I do the work I believe in. I'm prepared to tell a good story, as long as you're prepared to watch it."

Interestingly, Smriti had to get the title "Virrudh" from Mahesh Manjrekar who made a film of that name.

"He was generous enough to part with it," she said.