Smriti Irani is set to return to television as Tulsi Virani in the reboot of the iconic show Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, but the former Indian Union minister has made it clear: she is not quitting politics.
In an interview with NDTV, Smriti addressed speculation around her dual roles, stressing: “I am a full-time politician and a part-time actor. It is a side project.”
The 49-year-old, who lost the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Amethi but remains active in the Bharatiya Janata Party, emphasised that acting has always been a parallel pursuit, not a replacement.
“You’re given assignments within your organisation. My last assignment was in Bikaner. Before that, I was dispatched to Ranchi, Jharkhand,” she explained, reaffirming her continued involvement with party work.
Drawing a comparison to her peers, she remarked: “Many politicians are part-time lawyers, part-time teachers, part-time journalists. The only difference between me and them is that I come with a videographer, a scriptwriter and a makeup person.”
The announcement of her television comeback came with the reveal of her first look as Tulsi, dressed in a Banarasi saree, which quickly went viral.
The reboot is being spearheaded by producer Ekta Kapoor, and the show will premiere on July 29 on Star Plus and JioHotstar. Several original cast members are expected to return.
Smriti’s connection to Tulsi remains strong. “It’s as though we never left,” she said of returning to the set. Despite a 16-year gap, she claims her media and political careers have long run parallel. “Even in 2003, when I began my political journey, I was Tulsi,” she pointed out.
Reflecting on her career, she said acting took a backseat because of the nature of her political responsibilities. “As a former information and broadcasting and education minister, those are constitutional positions. You can’t just say, ‘I need to go and shoot’.”
Smriti also discussed how politics has deepened her abilities as an actor. “Actors are meant to absorb and observe life. Politics helps you understand people and the nation at a deeper level.”
When asked if Tulsi had shaped her, she replied, “It was not Tulsi impacting Smriti, it was Smriti impacting Tulsi.” She believes her authenticity allowed audiences to resonate with the character.
Addressing criticism that the show glamorised patriarchy, Smriti dismissed the claims, noting that Kyunki tackled bold themes like marital rape, adult literacy, and euthanasia 25 years ago. “We created prime time from a dead 10.30pm slot. We brought pay parity based on talent, not gender.”
