Smriti Irani, well-known for her role as Tulsi Virani, has consistently emphasized how Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi—produced by Ekta Kapoor—served as a platform to explore and address several women-centric issues during its long run starting in the early 2000s. In a space often dominated by female leads, Indian television offered a rare opportunity for women actors to shine—and in Irani’s case, her popularity led to her earning more than her male counterparts. The impact of the show, both socially and professionally, was substantial. Yet, while the limelight brought recognition, it also came with invisible emotional and physical tolls.
Returning to Work Three Days After Childbirth
During a 2023 appearance on The Slow Interview hosted by Neelesh Misra, Irani revisited a particularly taxing memory. She shared that just three days after delivering her son, she found herself back on the sets of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. The reason? The audience demanded a fresh episode every night at 10:30 p.m., and the pressure to meet these expectations left her with little room for recovery or rest.
The actress-turned-politician also spoke candidly about continuing work even after suffering a miscarriage. These experiences, she revealed, were not isolated but part of a pattern of sacrifice she felt obligated to make in the name of responsibility and commitment.
A Miscarriage on Set and the Callous Response
Narrating the harrowing incident in Hindi during the same interview, Irani disclosed that she hadn’t known she was pregnant. Feeling unwell on the set, she asked to be excused but was required to continue working until evening. Later that day, her doctor advised a sonogram. On her way to the clinic, Irani began bleeding in the rain and had to hail an auto-rickshaw to the hospital.
"I was not aware that I am pregnant. I was on the set (of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi),, and I told them I am not well enough to shoot and asked to be allowed to go home. But still, I worked, and by the time they let me go, it was evening already. The doctor suggested I go for a sonography. On my way, I started bleeding," she recalled.
Despite being in distress, she was approached by a nurse who recognized her and asked for an autograph. Irani complied before requesting admission, believing she was in the process of miscarrying.
Later that evening, she received a phone call from the production unit of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, instructing her to report back to work the following day. When she explained what had happened, the response from the team was shockingly indifferent. She was simply told to join the 2 p.m. shift as scheduled. At that point, Irani was juggling two major projects—shooting Ramayan in the mornings under director Ravi Chopra and her prime-time soap in the afternoons.
Ravi Chopra’s Compassion and Concern
Smriti then reached out to Ravi Chopra, informing him about the miscarriage. His response was in stark contrast to the insensitivity she had faced earlier. Chopra insisted that she take time off and recover, even refusing her polite request to delay her call time by just an hour. He reminded her of the gravity of losing a child and made it clear that she was not expected to work the following day.
Still worried about the schedule, Irani told Chopra that Sunday’s episode of Ramayan would require her presence, as the character of Sita was central and irreplaceable. Chopra reassured her, stating he would find a way to manage without compromising her well-being.
Accusations and the Need to Prove Her Pain
During a candid segment on Raj Shamani’s podcast, Irani disclosed that someone from the production team of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi falsely accused her of feigning the miscarriage. This individual reported to Ekta Kapoor that she was lying and avoiding the shoot without reason. In response, Irani was compelled to bring her hospital records back to the studio to prove the validity of her trauma. For someone already dealing with a personal loss, the need to justify her absence added a fresh layer of distress.
Recalling the incident in the interview with Mishra, she said, “The person didn’t realise that I have returned because I needed money to pay EMIs for my house. The next day, I took all my medical papers to Ekta to tell her it is not a drama. She got uncomfortable and told me not to show the papers. I told her, ‘Foetus bacha nahi, warna woh bhi dikha deti (I would have shown you the foetus also had it been there)."
Fired Immediately After Childbirth
Smriti also opened up about another painful chapter during her time as the host of Kuch Dil Se, a daily talk show that aired on Sab TV in the early 2000s, in the Shamani podcast. Despite working until the very end of her pregnancy and recording enough episodes to fill a 30-day content bank, she was abruptly dismissed from the show the day after she gave birth.
The dismissal arrived as a formal communication just a day after she had filmed the last episode, while she was still in the hospital recovering. According to her, the producers had already pre-recorded enough material to sustain the show with another host and were simply waiting for her to become unavailable before informing her of the decision. Irani felt the intention was clear: to exploit her efforts and quietly replace her.
Faith in Karma and the Show’s Eventual Failure
Instead of retaliating or expressing outrage, Irani simply smiled at the betrayal, confident that the unjust act would ultimately lead to its own undoing. Her instincts were correct. The new host—a film star with a more prominent name—failed to connect with the audience. As a result, Kuch Dil Se shut down completely and never returned to air.
This outcome reinforced Irani’s belief that sincerity and integrity eventually win, even if not immediately. Her work on the show had extended beyond hosting—she was also deeply involved in scripting and researching the topics it tackled, making the betrayal even more personal.
Returning as Tulsi: A Full-Circle Moment
Despite these many setbacks and emotional hardships, Smriti Irani remains an indelible part of Indian television history. In 2025, she is set to return as Tulsi Virani in the rebooted version of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, produced again by Ekta Kapoor under the Balaji Telefilms banner. This new chapter will premiere on StarPlus and JioHotstar starting July 29.
Her journey—from soaring success to emotional endurance—stands as a testament to both her professional dedication and personal resilience.
Returning to Work Three Days After Childbirth
During a 2023 appearance on The Slow Interview hosted by Neelesh Misra, Irani revisited a particularly taxing memory. She shared that just three days after delivering her son, she found herself back on the sets of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. The reason? The audience demanded a fresh episode every night at 10:30 p.m., and the pressure to meet these expectations left her with little room for recovery or rest.
The actress-turned-politician also spoke candidly about continuing work even after suffering a miscarriage. These experiences, she revealed, were not isolated but part of a pattern of sacrifice she felt obligated to make in the name of responsibility and commitment.
A Miscarriage on Set and the Callous Response
Narrating the harrowing incident in Hindi during the same interview, Irani disclosed that she hadn’t known she was pregnant. Feeling unwell on the set, she asked to be excused but was required to continue working until evening. Later that day, her doctor advised a sonogram. On her way to the clinic, Irani began bleeding in the rain and had to hail an auto-rickshaw to the hospital.
"I was not aware that I am pregnant. I was on the set (of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi),, and I told them I am not well enough to shoot and asked to be allowed to go home. But still, I worked, and by the time they let me go, it was evening already. The doctor suggested I go for a sonography. On my way, I started bleeding," she recalled.
Despite being in distress, she was approached by a nurse who recognized her and asked for an autograph. Irani complied before requesting admission, believing she was in the process of miscarrying.
Later that evening, she received a phone call from the production unit of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, instructing her to report back to work the following day. When she explained what had happened, the response from the team was shockingly indifferent. She was simply told to join the 2 p.m. shift as scheduled. At that point, Irani was juggling two major projects—shooting Ramayan in the mornings under director Ravi Chopra and her prime-time soap in the afternoons.
Ravi Chopra’s Compassion and Concern
Smriti then reached out to Ravi Chopra, informing him about the miscarriage. His response was in stark contrast to the insensitivity she had faced earlier. Chopra insisted that she take time off and recover, even refusing her polite request to delay her call time by just an hour. He reminded her of the gravity of losing a child and made it clear that she was not expected to work the following day.
Still worried about the schedule, Irani told Chopra that Sunday’s episode of Ramayan would require her presence, as the character of Sita was central and irreplaceable. Chopra reassured her, stating he would find a way to manage without compromising her well-being.
Accusations and the Need to Prove Her Pain
During a candid segment on Raj Shamani’s podcast, Irani disclosed that someone from the production team of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi falsely accused her of feigning the miscarriage. This individual reported to Ekta Kapoor that she was lying and avoiding the shoot without reason. In response, Irani was compelled to bring her hospital records back to the studio to prove the validity of her trauma. For someone already dealing with a personal loss, the need to justify her absence added a fresh layer of distress.
Recalling the incident in the interview with Mishra, she said, “The person didn’t realise that I have returned because I needed money to pay EMIs for my house. The next day, I took all my medical papers to Ekta to tell her it is not a drama. She got uncomfortable and told me not to show the papers. I told her, ‘Foetus bacha nahi, warna woh bhi dikha deti (I would have shown you the foetus also had it been there)."
Fired Immediately After Childbirth
Smriti also opened up about another painful chapter during her time as the host of Kuch Dil Se, a daily talk show that aired on Sab TV in the early 2000s, in the Shamani podcast. Despite working until the very end of her pregnancy and recording enough episodes to fill a 30-day content bank, she was abruptly dismissed from the show the day after she gave birth.
The dismissal arrived as a formal communication just a day after she had filmed the last episode, while she was still in the hospital recovering. According to her, the producers had already pre-recorded enough material to sustain the show with another host and were simply waiting for her to become unavailable before informing her of the decision. Irani felt the intention was clear: to exploit her efforts and quietly replace her.
Faith in Karma and the Show’s Eventual Failure
Instead of retaliating or expressing outrage, Irani simply smiled at the betrayal, confident that the unjust act would ultimately lead to its own undoing. Her instincts were correct. The new host—a film star with a more prominent name—failed to connect with the audience. As a result, Kuch Dil Se shut down completely and never returned to air.
This outcome reinforced Irani’s belief that sincerity and integrity eventually win, even if not immediately. Her work on the show had extended beyond hosting—she was also deeply involved in scripting and researching the topics it tackled, making the betrayal even more personal.
Returning as Tulsi: A Full-Circle Moment
Despite these many setbacks and emotional hardships, Smriti Irani remains an indelible part of Indian television history. In 2025, she is set to return as Tulsi Virani in the rebooted version of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, produced again by Ekta Kapoor under the Balaji Telefilms banner. This new chapter will premiere on StarPlus and JioHotstar starting July 29.
Her journey—from soaring success to emotional endurance—stands as a testament to both her professional dedication and personal resilience.
You may also like
Israel announces 10-hour military activity pause for aid in parts of Gaza Strip (Ld)
4th Test: Great to see Gill and Rahul fight it out for the rest of the team, says Karthik
Income Certificate Showing MP Farmer Earns ₹3 Annually Termed Clerical Error By Authorities
Chart-topping star 'felt like world was ending' over devastating break-up
UP government renews MoU with Vision India to create more jobs for ITI trained
