Born on March 23, 1976, in Delhi, Smriti Malhotra (Smriti Irani) grew up in a middle-class Punjabi family. Smriti comes from a diverse family background. After receiving her schooling from Holy Child Auxilium, she participated in the Miss India contest in 1998 and reached the finals. Although she did not win, the contest opened doors for her to modelling and an important song video “Boliyan” from Sawan Mein Lag Gayi Aag.
Before her political career, Smriti Irani had a successful career in the entertainment world. Her early days experiences in Mumbai were not glamorous. Smriti Irani started her journey from a simple family where she worked in India’s first McDonald’s restaurant. Later, she participated in the Miss India contest, where she made it to the top 10 finalists.
After this, Smriti entered the world of television and won remuneration for her role as ‘Tulsi’ in the famous daily soap opera “Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi”. The character gained immense popularity in Indian households and neighboring countries.
In the year 2000, Smriti auditioned and landed the lead role of Tulsi Virani in Ekta Kapoor’s flagship serial ‘Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi’. Tulsi epitomised ideal Indian family values, and Irani’s effortless portrayal touched the hearts of viewers.
Over eight years, the show became a cultural institution, winning the Indian Television Academy Best Actress Award five consecutive times and several Indian Telly Awards. The series broke records, shaping the early 2000s TV landscape and establishing Star Plus as a major broadcaster.
Apart from Tulsi, Smriti played roles in Ramayan (as Sita in 2002), Viruddh, Teen Bahuraniyan, hosted ‘Yeh Hai Jalwa’ and even produced ‘Waaris’ – which showed her versatility.
In 2004, she married Zubin Irani. By 2009, she began her political journey with the BJP and slowly rose to national prominence. By 2014, even before winning a Lok Sabha seat, she was appointed Union Human Resource Development Minister, a testament to the party’s faith in her leadership.
Her roles expanded: Minister of Textiles, Information & Broadcasting, and Women & Child Development. Notably, she worked with the Gates Foundation to bring low-cost medical innovations to India’s rural mothers (Fortune India).
Despite losing a high-profile seat like Amethi in 2024, Irani remained a prominent voice in the BJP. She is considered one of Fortune India’s Most Powerful Women of 2025 (Fortune India).
+ Sixteen years after she departed from TV, Irani is back, not out of nostalgia, but out of an opportunity.
+ She signed a contract to play Tulsi in “Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2”, a limited series of around 150 episodes, to premiere in June 2025.
+ Filming under tight security (Z+ coverage, phones banned on set) shows her prominence and the respect the producers have for her public stature.
+ She is reportedly the highest-paid actress on television today, with a per-episode fee of ₹14 lakh (1.4 million INR), up sharply from ₹1,800/month in the early 2000s.
This comeback is not a long-term career move; it’s a special project during a political hiatus. She has said it’s a “part-time actor, full-time politician” move.
Inspired by 25 years of nostalgia, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 will release on StarPlus and Jio Hotstar on July 29, 2025. Key details:
+ Tulsi and Mihir reunion: Irani will be seen opposite Amar Upadhyay as Mihir, a reunion that fans have been eagerly waiting for.
+ Iconic scene: In the promo, Irani is seen wearing a purple/Paithani sari, temple jewellery and a deep bindi, reflecting Tulsi’s original beauty.
+ Limited storyline: Instead of the old endless episodes, Season 2 is limited to around 150, focusing on quality storytelling.
+ Safety and privacy: Filming in a strict lockdown, promotion of importance and audience safety.
+ OTT possibility: There are talks of an OTT release, which could potentially increase its reach.
+ Model & Waitress – TV Superstar (Tulsi)
+ TV Veteran – Union Minister & National Politician
+ Politician – Iconic TV comeback
Because their return in Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 is no throwback; it is a bold, strategic blend of empathy, nostalgia and spectacle. It marks a full-circle moment where Tulsi and Smriti come together, reaffirming their current status while paying homage to their roots. The return of this limited series has all the makings of a cultural event, earned through persistence, legacy and timelessness.
NEET UG Counselling Schedule for State Quota Seats Released: The counselling schedule for state quota…
JNU Vice Chancellor Prof. Shantishri Dhulipudi Pandit highlighted the challenges faced by Indian Knowledge Systems…
As the NEET PG 2025 exam date is approaching, the National Board of Medical Examinations…
Attending the fourth convocation of the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) in Kota's Ranpur…
MCC NEET UG Counselling 2025: The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has released the schedule for…
NEET UG Retest: On Thursday, the Madhya Pradesh High Court reserved its decision regarding the…