Smriti Irani is making a powerful return to Indian television, reviving the character that made her a household name two decades ago. As per a report from Times Now, the former actress and current Union Minister will reprise her role as Tulsi Virani in the upcoming second season of the legendary soap opera Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. This beloved series, which first aired in 2000, left a lasting imprint on Indian households, and the news of its return has sparked immense excitement among fans.
The show’s highly anticipated reboot will reportedly come with a remarkable paycheck for Irani. According to the same Times Now report, she is set to earn a staggering Rs 14 lakh per day, making her the highest-paid female actor in Indian television history. This paycheck marks a dramatic leap from her early career days, offering a striking glimpse into her journey from modest beginnings to an iconic status.
From Humble Paychecks to Record-Breaking Salaries
In a conversation with Curly Tales, Smriti Irani once reflected on her early earnings in the entertainment industry. Back when she was just starting out, her income was considerably limited. She remembered being paid around Rs 1,800 per episode, which translated to approximately Rs 1,200 to Rs 1,300 for each day of shooting. This was a significant jump from her earlier job as a cleaner at a ppular restaurant, where she earned ₹1,800 per month. According to Irani, the switch to acting and earning over Rs 1,000 daily felt like a big upgrade at the time, especially when she lacked stable employment.
Return of the Classic Show with a Modern Twist
Bollywood Life has reported that the new season will feature Smriti Irani and Amar Upadhyay in the lead roles, once again bringing back the iconic pairing that viewers fondly remember. The show, produced by content queen Ektaa R Kapoor, is said to have a finite format, consisting of 150 episodes. While some details remain unconfirmed, the core of the reboot lies in blending nostalgia with contemporary storytelling.
The much-anticipated second season is set to premiere on July 29, 2025, airing at 10:30 PM on Star Plus. It will also be available for streaming on JioHotstar, allowing both new and longtime viewers to tune in on multiple platforms. This move is expected to reach a broad audience, capturing not just loyal fans from two decades ago but also attracting a younger generation of viewers.
Ektaa Kapoor Opens Up About Bringing Back Tulsi and the Show
Ektaa R Kapoor, the creator and producer of the original series, recently opened up about her decision to bring back Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. Sharing her thoughts ahead of the show’s return, Kapoor revealed that she initially hesitated to revive the series. As she reflected on the show approaching its 25th anniversary, her first instinct was to say no to a reboot. She was wary of tampering with nostalgia—something she felt was impossible to surpass.
Kapoor noted how the television landscape has evolved over the years. Unlike the early 2000s, where content consumption was limited to select urban markets, the audience today is fragmented and scattered across various digital and regional platforms. This shift made her question whether reintroducing a classic show could risk diluting its legacy—especially one that had achieved unparalleled TRP ratings in its prime.
The Legacy of Kyunki: Beyond Just Ratings
However, Kapoor recalled an international study that offered a new perspective. According to this research, during the years 2000 to 2005, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi played a pivotal role in transforming Indian households. For the first time, women began actively engaging in family discussions, influenced largely by the strong female voices portrayed in shows like Kyunki and Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki. The impact was not just in numbers but in the cultural shift it inspired.
This insight made her reconsider. Could the reboot once again use the television medium to tell meaningful stories and explore issues that matter? She asked herself if television could return to being a powerful space for conversation, education, and influence—without focusing only on ratings.
A New Mission: Telling Stories That Matter
Inspired by these reflections, Kapoor finally made the decision to move forward with the reboot—not to compete with nostalgia, but to use the platform for impact. She stated her vision for the new Kyunki season: to ask bold questions, explore modern themes like parenting, boundaries, and mental health, and bring families back to meaningful dinner-table conversations.
The new edition of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi aims to celebrate its historic 25-year journey by offering content that blends entertainment with relevance. Kapoor emphasized that the show’s return isn’t about chasing numbers but about reclaiming television as a space for thoughtful storytelling. She added that while nostalgia cannot be recreated, the real goal is to inspire, provoke thought, and entertain—without sounding preachy, but by staying relatable and inclusive.
Celebrating a Cultural Phenomenon
With Smriti Irani’s return, Amar Upadhyay’s familiar presence, and Ektaa Kapoor’s renewed vision, the revival of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi is poised to be more than just a reboot. It’s a celebration of television’s legacy in India, a tribute to impactful storytelling, and a fresh opportunity to shape conversations that resonate across generations. As the countdown begins for July 29, fans both old and new are eagerly awaiting the show’s grand return.
The show’s highly anticipated reboot will reportedly come with a remarkable paycheck for Irani. According to the same Times Now report, she is set to earn a staggering Rs 14 lakh per day, making her the highest-paid female actor in Indian television history. This paycheck marks a dramatic leap from her early career days, offering a striking glimpse into her journey from modest beginnings to an iconic status.
From Humble Paychecks to Record-Breaking Salaries
In a conversation with Curly Tales, Smriti Irani once reflected on her early earnings in the entertainment industry. Back when she was just starting out, her income was considerably limited. She remembered being paid around Rs 1,800 per episode, which translated to approximately Rs 1,200 to Rs 1,300 for each day of shooting. This was a significant jump from her earlier job as a cleaner at a ppular restaurant, where she earned ₹1,800 per month. According to Irani, the switch to acting and earning over Rs 1,000 daily felt like a big upgrade at the time, especially when she lacked stable employment.
Return of the Classic Show with a Modern Twist
Bollywood Life has reported that the new season will feature Smriti Irani and Amar Upadhyay in the lead roles, once again bringing back the iconic pairing that viewers fondly remember. The show, produced by content queen Ektaa R Kapoor, is said to have a finite format, consisting of 150 episodes. While some details remain unconfirmed, the core of the reboot lies in blending nostalgia with contemporary storytelling.
The much-anticipated second season is set to premiere on July 29, 2025, airing at 10:30 PM on Star Plus. It will also be available for streaming on JioHotstar, allowing both new and longtime viewers to tune in on multiple platforms. This move is expected to reach a broad audience, capturing not just loyal fans from two decades ago but also attracting a younger generation of viewers.
Ektaa Kapoor Opens Up About Bringing Back Tulsi and the Show
Ektaa R Kapoor, the creator and producer of the original series, recently opened up about her decision to bring back Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. Sharing her thoughts ahead of the show’s return, Kapoor revealed that she initially hesitated to revive the series. As she reflected on the show approaching its 25th anniversary, her first instinct was to say no to a reboot. She was wary of tampering with nostalgia—something she felt was impossible to surpass.
Kapoor noted how the television landscape has evolved over the years. Unlike the early 2000s, where content consumption was limited to select urban markets, the audience today is fragmented and scattered across various digital and regional platforms. This shift made her question whether reintroducing a classic show could risk diluting its legacy—especially one that had achieved unparalleled TRP ratings in its prime.
The Legacy of Kyunki: Beyond Just Ratings
However, Kapoor recalled an international study that offered a new perspective. According to this research, during the years 2000 to 2005, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi played a pivotal role in transforming Indian households. For the first time, women began actively engaging in family discussions, influenced largely by the strong female voices portrayed in shows like Kyunki and Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki. The impact was not just in numbers but in the cultural shift it inspired.
This insight made her reconsider. Could the reboot once again use the television medium to tell meaningful stories and explore issues that matter? She asked herself if television could return to being a powerful space for conversation, education, and influence—without focusing only on ratings.
A New Mission: Telling Stories That Matter
Inspired by these reflections, Kapoor finally made the decision to move forward with the reboot—not to compete with nostalgia, but to use the platform for impact. She stated her vision for the new Kyunki season: to ask bold questions, explore modern themes like parenting, boundaries, and mental health, and bring families back to meaningful dinner-table conversations.
The new edition of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi aims to celebrate its historic 25-year journey by offering content that blends entertainment with relevance. Kapoor emphasized that the show’s return isn’t about chasing numbers but about reclaiming television as a space for thoughtful storytelling. She added that while nostalgia cannot be recreated, the real goal is to inspire, provoke thought, and entertain—without sounding preachy, but by staying relatable and inclusive.
Celebrating a Cultural Phenomenon
With Smriti Irani’s return, Amar Upadhyay’s familiar presence, and Ektaa Kapoor’s renewed vision, the revival of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi is poised to be more than just a reboot. It’s a celebration of television’s legacy in India, a tribute to impactful storytelling, and a fresh opportunity to shape conversations that resonate across generations. As the countdown begins for July 29, fans both old and new are eagerly awaiting the show’s grand return.
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