One of the unfortunate fall-outs of being rich famous and iconic is, you get the wrong kind of attention.

Smriti 'Tulsi' Irani discovered this to her horror, when recently she was bombarded by threatening calls which were traced to a member of her famous soap `Kyunkii Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Tthi`s` unit.

Now, much relieved, Smriti is accompanied by a cop who refuses to let her be alone for even a second.

Says the iconic star. "It was traumatic for me. But I was more concerned because my family was put through the ordeal. It's on some level, understandable if I'm subjected to unwanted attention. But why threaten my poor babies? I've chosen to be in a profession where I'm constantly being watched.

I can't crib if I've to suffer the consequences of being in the public arena. But why drag my family into it? My one-and-a-half year old daughter doesn't even know her mother is an actress! She has never seen me on screen, for God's sake! "

Smriti tries hard to control her emotions. I tell her it's specially shocking that a woman should've subjected her to such a heinous act of anonymous aggression. Smriti protests, "Why categorize crime as a gender issue? Why should a man or woman be more inclined to believe in certain basic values, like the sanctity of a family or a parent's concern for her children? Any humanbeing, man or woman, must value these feelings."

"I've absolutely no explanation for what happened. When I did the Aunt Agony show `Kuch Dil Se` on Sab TV I met so many people with their peculiar problems. As I heard out people who had done others wrong I'd often wonder how a human being allows his or her better judgement to override the conscience. When I share these feelings with my friends they say, 'Everyone isn't like you.' But I think it's easy to assert your better feelings and not allow the darker side to dominate your personality."

Smriti says she has no idea why she was subjected to threats. "I believe the idea was to frame someone else from another community. And the best way to target someone was through me, I guess. It's a sensitive issue. And I chose not to speak to the press about it while it happened. The people involved in the crime are youngsters. They don't realize the enormity of their actions. Their whole life and career could be destroyed. At the same time I can't fully sympathize with them because I've seen my children suffer. I don't see how they thought they could get away with it. But I'm okay. No one can stop me from living my life the way I want to."

The ugly incident hasn't soured Smriti and made her suspicious. "You can't stop trusting people just because of a few people. I felt bad for my babies. I'd look at them each night during the trauma and wonder why they should be threatened when I'm the actress and politician. Even my husband wasn't worried for his own life, but for mine and our children. Once the cops ensured me my family would be safe, my worries lessened."

Has the security been beefed up? Smriti laughs. "Well, the senior leaders in my party insisted. And I've a cop with me round-the-clock. Poor thing! I keep doing this Tulsi number on him. I keep telling him to go home to his wife and kids."