Latest news with #Ektaa
India Today
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Ektaa Kapoor recalls Smriti Irani was mother Shobha's pick for Tulsi
Actor Smriti Irani and producer Ekta Kapoor recently engaged in a fun live session on the Instagram handle of Star Plus. Ektaa admitted that it was her mother, Shobha Kapoor, who insisted on casting Smriti as Tulsi Virani in 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi'.The producer shared that her mother was impressed by Smriti after spotting her on another show. Ektaa said, "Meri mom ne Smriti ko ek show mein dekha tha aur bola ki, 'Ye ek ladki maine show mein dekhi hai joh bahut hi khubsurat hai aur mujhe bahut pasand aayi hai' (My mum saw Smriti in a show and said, 'I saw this girl in another show and she's really beautiful, and I really liked her')." Ekta Kapoor and Smrirti Irani engaged in a live Instagram chat. (Credit: Star Plus) advertisementEktaa recalled that the show in which Shobha saw Smriti was also aired on Star Plus. She mentioned that the actor had been working as a replacement for one of Ektaa's friends who hadn't shown up that day. The 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi' producer further said, "I don't know what you did back then, but my mum was completely taken by you. She's actually a big fan of Twinkle Khanna, and she called me saying, 'There's this girl who looks like Twinkle Khanna and she's so beautiful—please cast her.' So everyone thinks I cast you for Kyunki, but it was actually my mum who saw you and said, 'I really like this girl'... and what a face." 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi', which originally aired from 2000 to 2008, is back on television with a reboot after 17 years. Apart from Smriti, Amar Upadhyay has reprised his role as Mihir Virani in the series. Shakti Anand as Hemant Virani, Ritu Chaudhary as Shobha Virani Choudhary, and Hiten Tejwani as Karan Virani also play key roles. Gauri Pradhan portrays Tulsi's daughter-in-law in the first episode of 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi' premiered on July 29, 10:30 pm. The show is available for streaming on JioHotstar and Star Plus.- EndsMust Watch
News18
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News18
‘Looks Like Twinkle Khanna': How Smriti Irani Landed Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi Role
Producer Ektaa Kapoor shared an interesting anecdote that turned over the long-held belief that she was the one who chose Smriti for the role. Smriti Irani, the beloved face of Indian television, has made a much-anticipated return to the small screen with Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. Nearly two decades later, the actress-turned-politician is lighting up screens as Tulsi and audiences couldn't be more thrilled. The reboot of the iconic Star Plus drama premiered on July 29 and fans were swept with nostalgia at seeing Irani reprise her legendary role. But what's caught everyone's attention even more than the show's return is the surprising revelation about how Smriti Irani was originally cast. In a live session on Star Plus's official Instagram page, producer Ektaa Kapoor shared an interesting anecdote that turned over the long-held belief that she was the one who chose Smriti for the role. Ektaa revealed that her mother, Shobha Kapoor, had spotted Irani during a different Star Plus program and was struck by her beauty. She revealed, 'Meri mom ne Smriti ko ek show mein dekha tha aur bola ke ye ek ladki maine show mein dekha hai… Joh bahut hi khubsurat hai aur mujhe bahut pasand aayi hai (My mom saw Smriti in a show and said, 'I saw this girl… she's really beautiful and I really liked her.')." She went on to say that she had stepped in last minute as a replacement for a friend in the show, where her mother spotted Smriti. 'I was filling in for one of Ektaa's friends who didn't show up. It was purely by chance," Ektaa revealed. View this post on Instagram A post shared by TV Promos (@tvpromosindia) Smriti Irani's comparison with Twinkle Khanna During the same conversation, Ektaa then told Smriti, 'I don't know what you did back then, but my mom was completely taken by you. She's actually a big fan of Twinkle Khanna and she called me saying, 'There's this girl who looks like Twinkle Khanna and she's so beautiful—please cast her.' So everyone thinks I cast you for Kyunki, but it was actually my mom who saw you and said, 'I really like this girl… and what a face." Smriti Irani's audition While Smriti's performance impressed Ektaa instantly, no one else on the set was convinced at the time. Ektaa revealed, 'Smriti came for the auditions. She was very slim, quiet and shy. She gave her audition and ended it with such a sweet smile." Ektaa Kapoor's show Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu. This original series first aired in July 2000. The daily soap revolutionised Indian television and the 'saas-bahu" genre, enjoying a successful eight-year run. Created by Ektaa Kapoor, the show revolved around a strong, self-sacrificing and principled daughter-in-law, Tulsi Virani. Her character became a cultural icon, challenging stereotypical portrayals of women on screen. The story explored family dynamics, relationships and power struggles within a joint household. Now, after 25 years, the new season brings back the original cast, including Smriti Irani, Gauri Pradhan, Hiten Tejwani, Amar Upadhyay, Shakti Anand and Ketki Dave. The makers have also introduced fresh faces like Aman Gandhi, Rohit Suchanti and Shagun Sharma. Produced by Balaji Motion Pictures, Kyunki 2 premiered again on small screens on July 29 at 10:30 PM. Fans can watch the upcoming episodes on Star Plus or JioHotstar. First Published: July 30, 2025, 18:17 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Ektaa Kapoor says her mom pushed her to cast Smriti in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi: ‘She looks like Twinkle Khanna'
Actor Smriti Irani is back on television with her iconic show Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. The show premiered on 29 July, and fans have been overwhelmed with nostalgia upon seeing it return. While many assume it was Ektaa Kapoor who cast Smriti as Tulsi, the producer recently revealed that it was actually her mother, Shobha Kapoor, who insisted on Smriti being chosen for the role. Ektaa Kapoor cast Smriti Irani in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi after her mom's suggestion. Ektaa Kapoor on how Smriti Irani was cast in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi Just before the show's premiere on Star Plus, Ektaa and Smriti held a live session on the channel's official Instagram page, during which Ektaa shared an interesting anecdote about how Smriti was cast. She revealed that her mother had spotted Smriti on another show and was struck by her beauty. 'Meri mom ne Smriti ko ek show mein dekha tha aur bola ke ye ek ladki maine show mein dekha hai… joh bahut hi khubsurat hai aur mujhe bahut pasand aayi hai (My mum saw Smriti in a show and said, 'I saw this girl… she's really beautiful, and I really liked her').' Smriti added that the show in which Shobha spotted her was also on Star Plus, and that she had been working as a replacement for one of Ektaa's friends who hadn't shown up that day. Ektaa continued, 'I don't know what you did back then, but my mum was completely taken by you. She's actually a big fan of Twinkle Khanna, and she called me saying, 'There's this girl who looks like Twinkle Khanna and she's so beautiful—please cast her.' So everyone thinks I cast you for Kyunki, but it was actually my mum who saw you and said, 'I really like this girl'... and what a face.' Ektaa concluded, 'Then Smriti came for the auditions—she was very slim, quiet and shy. She gave her audition and ended it with such a sweet smile.' Smriti further revealed that Ektaa was the only one who liked her audition; no one else on the set was convinced at the time. About Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi The daily soap, which originally aired from 2000 to 2008, is back on television with a reboot after 17 years. When it first aired, the show topped TRP charts and became a household phenomenon, with many viewers adjusting their daily routines to watch it. Created by Ektaa Kapoor, the show redefined the 'saas-bahu' genre. Tulsi Virani, the central character, became a cultural icon as the ideal daughter-in-law—strong, self-sacrificing, and principled—challenging stereotypical portrayals of women on screen. The story moved beyond the typical mother-in-law vs daughter-in-law conflict to explore family dynamics, relationships, and power struggles within a joint household. The reboot premiered on 29 July and airs on Star Plus and JioCinema (formerly Hotstar) at 10:30 pm.
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2: Ektaa Kapoor reveals Shobha Kapoor spotted Smriti Irani in a show; says 'My mom told me there is this girl who looks like Twinkle Khanna'
The wait of ardent fans Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi is over as the show returns after 25 years with a new season. The season 2 of the iconic hit show marks the comeback of Smriti Irani to acting and small screen and also brings back the hit pair of Mihir and Tulsi Virani. As the show went on-air at the 10:30 PM slot, Ektaa Kapoor and Smriti Irani came live on the official Instagram page of the channel airing the show. The Producer and actor duo recalled fond memories of the Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and revealed interesting anecdotes. Smriti Irani Is Back as Tulsi! #KyunkiSaasReboot Premieres July 29 While talking about Kyunki, Ektaa Kapoor revealed the story behind casting Smriti Irani. She shared how her mom Shobha Kapoor spotted Smriti in a TV show and called up Ektaa to cast her in Kyunki. Ektaa revealed, "Meri mom ne Smriti ko ek show mein dekha tha aur bola the ke ye ek ladki maine show mein dekha bahot he khubsurat ladki hai aur woh mujhe bahot pasand aayi hai." (My mom saw Smriti in a show and said, 'I saw this girl in a show… she's really beautiful and I really liked her.) Smriti interrupted Ektaa and shared that the show was on the same channel which is currently airing Kyunki and she had replaced Ektaa's close friend Neelam Kothari for an episode. She said, "Aur woh show bhi same channel par tha aur uss show mein maine aapki friend Neelam Kothari joh hai woh uss din bimar thi toh aa nahi paayin thi toh maine unka replacement kiya tha." (And that show was also on the same channel. On that day, your friend Neelam Kothari couldn't make it because she was unwell, so I stepped in as her replacement. ) Praising Smriti Ektaa responded, "I don't know what you had done back then but I mom had completely gone crazy after watching you. My mom is actually a big fan of Twinkle Khanna and she called me up and said there is this girl who looks like Twinkle Khanna and she is so beautiful, so please cast her. So everyone thought I cast you for Kyunki but it was my mom who saw you and was like mujhe ye ladki bahot pasand hai... and what a face." Ektaa continued, "Then Smriti came for the auditions, she was very slim, quiet and shy. She auditioned for the show and gave such a sweet smile at the end of it." Smriti reacted to her audition story and added, "Aur woh audition Ektaa ko chodh ke kisi ko pasand nahi aaya... sabne bola ye ladki."
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Ektaa Kapoor reacts to comparisons between TV shows Anupamaa and Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi; calls it ‘Unfair'
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi is making a comeback with its new season, with Smriti Irani and Amar Upadhyay once again being a part of the highly anticipated show. Ever since the news of the new season came out, fans have started to draw comparisons between Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and another popular show, Anupamaa. Ektaa Kapoor has now reacted to the same and called it 'unfair.' Ektaa Kapoor recently reacted to the comparisons in an interview with Brut and mentioned how it is unfair to draw comparisons between lead stars and shows. She further revealed that she found it in bad taste and does not want fans to draw such comparisons. Ektaa said, 'Yesterday, I was seeing some videos about Anupamaa having a problem with Kyunki's coming. I felt that was such bad taste. She ( Rupali Ganguly ) is such a big star. Anupamaa, the show, Rajan, the creator, have done what nobody else could do in the last 7 years. They continue to be number 1, and they should continue to be number 1. We are coming with our purpose to tell our story.' S by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why Seniors Are Snapping Up This TV Box, We Explain! Techno Mag Learn More Undo he further shared, 'These unfair comparisons between lead characters and lead shows are so unnecessary. I think pitting women against each other, pitting content against each other, is so uncalled for.' Ektaa and Smriti recently visited the Nathdwara Temple in Udaipur, Rajasthan, to seek blessings ahead of the premiere of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2. Fans are quite excited to watch the new season of the show. The first season of the show ran for 8 years, from 2000 to 2008.
