33 minutes agoAuthor: Shaily Acharya
To her television audiences, she is still Tulsi Virani, the iconic face of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi.
To the nation, she is one of the BJP’s influential leaders. From ruling prime-time television to shaping national politics, Smriti Irani’s journey has been nothing short of extraordinary.
Now, she has been given another major role as the BJP’s newly appointed National General Secretary.
Soon after the news broke, her fans and political observers alike are asking a question: “How will TV’s most beloved bahu balance her iconic legacy as Tulsi with her growing political duties?
While some are saying that she will quit the show and new actors are going to come in the show and story plot may get changed.
A post by a Reddit user.
While speculation grows, Smriti Irani and her team have remained silent on whether she plans to quit TV or find a way to manage both roles.
Interestingly, Irani had already made a dramatic return to acting after nearly two decades away from television.
She reprised her iconic role as Tulsi Virani in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2, which began airing in July 2025. The comeback brought back one of the most recognisable faces of Indian television to the screen.
Smriti began her career with modelling
Born on 23 March 1976, Smriti Irani started her career in the entertainment industry. Before becoming a television star, she worked as a model and appeared in beauty pageants. She also featured in music videos and took up acting roles as she tried to establish herself in television.
Smriti once shared in an interview that to participate in the Miss India competition, she needed ₹1 lakh and secured a loan from her father.
Her breakthrough came in 2000 when she was cast as Tulsi Virani in Ekta Kapoor’s Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. The show became a television phenomenon, and Tulsi became one of the most popular characters on Indian television.
In her 20s, while searching for better opportunities, she worked at McDonalds.
Tulsi made Smriti a household name
The popularity of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi was extraordinary. The show remained at the top of television ratings for years, with reports noting that it maintained double-digit TRPs for seven consecutive years. It also won several awards, while Irani received major recognition for playing Tulsi.
The Star Plus saga, which ran until 2008, became a cultural phenomenon, redefining Indian prime time television with its blend of emotion, tradition, and family conflicts.
For viewers, Smriti Irani and Tulsi became almost inseparable. Her character represented the strong, emotional, and traditional Indian daughter-in-law, while the show’s family conflicts became a regular part of television conversations.
Irani eventually stepped away from acting as her political career took centre stage.
Highest-paid actress of her time
She emerged as one of the highest-paid TV actresses, a household name whose saree-clad grace and quiet strength resonated across generations. Fans still recall how entire neighbourhoods paused for the 9 pm slot.
Smriti Irani left the show in 2007 due to some conflict with Ekta Kapoor and then returned to reprise her role as Tulsi in May 2008.
She resumed acting even after her miscarriage
Though success came, it was not easy. Her famous role of ‘Bahu’ boosted her from a struggling actor to celebrity, but the journey involved grueling shoots. She once revealed being asked to resume filming just a day after a miscarriage, highlighting the industry’s demands. Yet these experiences forged her grit.
Her personal struggles, shared candidly in interviews, reveal a woman who refused victimhood. Smriti drew strength from chaos. “I have never given validation from another human being that much importance,” she said, emphasising self-belief.
Lost Amethi in 2014 elections
Irani joined the Bharatiya Janata Party and gradually rose through its ranks. She became actively involved in the party organisation and later served as a Rajya Sabha MP.
Irani lost Amethi to Congress’s Kishori Lal Sharma by over 1.67 lakh votes amid perceptions of local disconnect in 2014 elections. Many saw it as a career low. But her comeback was swift.
Her biggest political breakthrough came in the 2014 Lok Sabha election, when she contested against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Amethi. Although she lost that election, she remained a prominent BJP leader.
Five years later, she returned to Amethi and defeated Gandhi in the 2019 Lok Sabha election, a victory that established her as one of the BJP’s most prominent leaders. She subsequently served as a Union minister, handling important portfolios including Women and Child Development and Textiles.
‘Entering politics early in her career was ‘detrimental’
In Soha Ali Khan’s show All About Her, Smriti revealed the challenges and sacrifices she faced. She candidly stated that entering politics early in her career was “detrimental,” requiring significantly more effort than she initially anticipated. She dispelled the notion that actors turn to politics as a last resort, emphasising that her entry was a deliberate early choice.
Then Tulsi returned after nearly 20 years
After losing the Amethi Lok Sabha election again in 2024 and spending years away from acting, Irani surprised fans by returning as Tulsi in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 in 2025. Her return became one of the biggest nostalgia moments on Indian television.
The new series brought back several familiar faces and continued the Virani family story while introducing new characters and conflicts. Irani’s return also proved that the Tulsi character still had a strong emotional connection with audiences.
Will politics now affect her TV comeback?
At present, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 is still in production and continues to feature Irani as Tulsi. However, her expanded political responsibilities have already triggered speculation within the television industry about whether she can continue with the same schedule. Reports suggest that the show’s production is continuing for now, but her new role has raised questions about how long she can balance both commitments.
For fans, the biggest question is still: Will Tulsi continue to rule the Virani family, while Smriti Irani takes on an even bigger role in the BJP?
