Tulsi Virani Returns After 25 Years. But Why Is This Congress Leader Being ‘Thanked'?
Smriti Irani is reprising her role as Tulsi Virani after 25 years in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2.
Smriti Irani is returning as Tulsi Virani after 25 years. The former Union Minister shared the first look of her iconic character from Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 on social media, which gained widespread attention. In no time, fans rushed to the post to celebrate the comeback of one of Indian television's most iconic roles.
But beyond the excitement, her return also triggered political reactions online. Several Congress leaders and supporters used the announcement to take a swipe at Irani after her defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Amethi.
Thank you @KLSharmaINC JiGood luck @SmritiIrani Ji. Wishing you a great acting career ahead! pic.twitter.com/EipakDhMgh
— Congress Kerala (@INCKerala) July 7, 2025
Congress spokesperson Surendra Rajput also shared a post in Hindi, saying that Congress is helping people return to their original professions.
'The Congress Party will ensure everyone gets their original jobs back. Those that the BJP had taken away from them, this is just the beginning, no one will remain unemployed! Smriti Irani returns in the avatar of 'Tulsi'! The first look of Smriti Irani's 'Kyunkii Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi' – 2 has been revealed," he wrote on X.
Along with Congress leaders, some social media users have also shared similar posts mocking her.
One person wrote, 'Smriti Irani returns as Tulsi. Courtesy: Kishori Lal Sharma."
Smriti Irani retuns as Tusli.Courtesy: Kishori Lal Sharma🗿 pic.twitter.com/fFsSWHvnQ3
— Mohit Chauhan (@mohitlaws) July 7, 2025
'Heartfelt thanks to the people of Amethi and Kishori Lal Sharma ji for showing Smriti Irani ji her rightful place. The Congress knows how to remind everyone of their status and place both," wrote someone else.
स्मृति ईरानी जी को उनकी सही जगह दिखाने के लिए अमेठी की जनता और किशोरी लाल शर्मा जी को दिल से धन्यवाद।कांग्रेस हर किसी को उसकी औकात और जगह दोनों याद दिलाना जानती है..🙏🏼😁 #Amethi #KishoriLalSharma #स्मृतिईरानी #smritiirani pic.twitter.com/V3qTeQCru5
Smriti Irani is returning to "Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi" show.
Kishori Lal Sharma pic.twitter.com/AvkvKWSq1X
— Narundar (@NarundarM) July 7, 2025
Kishori Lal Sharma is a veteran Congress worker and one of the most trusted aides of the Gandhi family. His political journey in Amethi began in 1983 when he was brought in through a Youth Congress programme launched by then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Sharma was placed in charge of the Tiloi Assembly segment under the Amethi Lok Sabha constituency and remained closely involved in the party's work across Amethi and Rae Bareli.
After Rajiv Gandhi's death in 1991, Sharma continued to serve the Congress in the region. He played an important role in Sonia Gandhi's first electoral campaign from Amethi in 1999 and later helped manage constituency work in Rae Bareli as well.
Amethi and Rae Bareli have historically been strongholds for the Congress and the Gandhi family. But in 2019, the party suffered a major setback after Rahul Gandhi lost Amethi to Irani.
In the 2024 general elections, the Gandhi family did not contest from Amethi for the first time in decades. Kishori Lal Sharma was fielded by Congress in what was his debut election. Backed by his decades-long presence and organisational work in the region, Sharma contested from Amethi and won, which helped Congress reclaim the seat.
Speculation Over Smriti Irani's Political Future
Irani's return to television led to renewed speculation about her future in politics, especially after she was left out of the Modi 3.0 cabinet and lost the Amethi seat in the 2024 general elections. Many questioned whether the acting comeback marked a shift away from her political career.
But this is not the first time the Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi reboot was considered. Irani had earlier shared that the show was originally planned in 2014 but was delayed due to her ministerial responsibilities.
'There were two projects that I had walked away from. One was a movie that I was doing with the late Rishi Kapoor, and another one was Kyunki 2. The set was ready, but there was a phone call from the Prime Minister's office that you had to take an oath. So, I walked away from both of them. I remember Rishi Kapoor telling me to leave now because to serve your country is a greater service than just doing a movie or doing television," she said as quoted by Economic Times.
'I'm A Full-Time Politician, Part-Time Actor': Smriti Irani
In a recent interview, Irani directly addressed the assumptions around her return to acting. She stated clearly that acting is only a side project and that she continues to work actively within her party organisation.
'I am working in Amethi. You're given assignments within your organisation. My last assignment was in Bikaner. Before that I was dispatched to Ranchi, Jharkhand. So the organisation keeps giving you work and you have to work according to whatever your leadership decides," she said in an interview with NDTV.
She further said, 'I am a full-time politician and a part-time actor. It is a side project. For most consumers, the project is not one individual. It's always a group of actors coming together, a group of writers coming together. I am very humbly so the most recognisable face out of that mix of people, but I'm a full-time politician, a part-time actor — just like many politicians are part-time lawyers, part-time teachers, part-time journalists."
Drawing a comparison with fellow leaders, she added, 'The only difference between me and my other political colleagues is they are part-time lawyers and there's no videographer along with them. There's no makeup person along with them. There's no scriptwriter. It's just that we all are from different vocations. I'm just the one in the spotlight."
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Smriti Irani Is Known As a Powerful Orator
Irani has been recognised for her strong presence in Parliament. Over the years, she became one of the BJP's most prominent women leaders and was often praised for her sharp debating style. Like the late Sushma Swaraj, Irani emerged as one of the standout orators in her party.
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July 09, 2025, 11:26 IST
News viral Tulsi Virani Returns After 25 Years. But Why Is This Congress Leader Being 'Thanked'?
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