Daisy Irani on Representation, Storytelling and Why Singapore Needs Bigger Stories

For many Singaporeans, Daisy Irani Subaiah will always be remembered as Daisy, the sharp witted and vivacious neighbour from the beloved sitcom Under One Roof. As one of the show’s most recognisable characters, she became a familiar face in households across the country and helped cement the series as one of Singapore’s most iconic television productions.

But beyond the role that made her a household name, Daisy has spent decades shaping Singapore’s entertainment industry as an actress, producer, director and founder of HuM Theatre.

I first crossed paths with Daisy on a bank commercial years ago and later had the chance to work with her again on the short film Thank You Daisy. Even then, it was easy to see why she remains such a respected figure in the industry. Equal parts warm, witty and passionate about her craft, Daisy brings the same energy to every project she takes on.

For Daisy, storytelling was never a career she consciously chose.

“I was born into it,” she says. “My mother and several other relatives were cinema and theatre professionals. Watching her on stage and screen was my childhood pastime. It left me with the itch to be on stage. An itch that I have been scratching for half a century.”

Though she initially came to Singapore for love, she would go on to build a career that spanned both stage and screen. Over the years, she wore many hats, from actress and director to producer and television executive, eventually becoming Vice President of English Entertainment at Mediacorp.

Many will know her as Daisy from Under One Roof, but her influence extends far beyond the screen. She was also behind some of local television's most memorable productions, including Incredible Tales and Living with Lydia, helping to shape Singapore's English entertainment landscape at a time when local storytelling was coming into its own.

When asked which projects remain closest to her heart, Daisy points to theatre productions such as Being Mrs Gandhi, We Are Like This Only and Train to Pakistan. Each explored themes of identity, belonging and community, subjects that continue to feature prominently in her work today.

Creating space for minority voices

As a woman, immigrant and member of Singapore’s Indian community, Daisy has experienced first hand the lack of meaningful representation available to minorities.

“Too often Singaporean stories told on stage and screen offer very few meaningful roles for an Indian of my ilk,” she says.

It was one of the reasons she founded HuM Theatre, creating a platform to tell stories about Singapore’s Indian community while encouraging wider conversations about identity, culture and belonging.

While Daisy believes Singapore has made significant strides in embracing diversity, she hopes audiences will continue to be curious about experiences beyond their own.

“What I would like to see is an appreciation that all our stories are shared stories and as an audience we should be curious about each other. Only then will our pursuit of wholesome integration become real.”

Why Singapore needs bigger stories

Having spent decades in the industry, Daisy believes Singapore’s creative community has all the ingredients for success. What it needs now is confidence.

“As my husband likes to say, our industry needs a Joseph Schooling moment,” she says.

“It needs that leap of confidence that our stories are worth telling and worth sharing. We need to stop being afraid and embrace bigger, bolder stories that are inherently ours.”

At the same time, she remains encouraged by the next generation of creatives.

“I’m staggered at the continuous scale of young professionals coming in to break barriers and have their voices heard. That is a great sign for the future.”

The next chapter

These days, Daisy is focused on The Nether, an award winning play that will run from July 8 to 12 at the Esplanade Theatre Studio. Set in a future where virtual reality blurs the lines between fantasy and crime, the production continues Daisy's commitment to stories that challenge audiences to think more deeply about the world around them.

What drew her to the production was not just its gripping premise, but the conversations it encourages audiences to have.

“With all the discussion around AI, the play tackles life in the internet of the future,” she says. “Will it be a platform for people with criminal intent to let off steam or will it sharpen and enhance those tendencies?”

Presented in partnership with PAVE, the production also aims to raise awareness about family violence and the abuse of children, issues Daisy believes deserve greater attention.

“I would like audiences to leave feeling glad they came,” she says. “Not just because they enjoyed the performances, but because they leave with a little more awareness about these issues.”

After more than five decades in the industry, Daisy remains as passionate about storytelling as ever. Asked what advice she wishes someone had given her at the start of her career, her answer is simple:

“That there is no retirement age in this business.”

Looking at the projects she continues to champion and the conversations she continues to spark, it is clear she has no intention of slowing down anytime soon.