Latest news with #SmritiIrani
NDTV
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Smriti Irani's Kyunki Husband Amar Upadhyay Reveals What Meeting The "Big Politician" Was Like
New Delhi: Loyal Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi fans are waiting with bated breath for the reboot series to premiere tonight at 10:30 PM on Star Plus. Everyone's favourite Mihir and Tulsi Virani, played by Amar Upadhyay and Smriti Irani respectively, are reprising their roles, which makes it all the more exciting. Smriti Irani had become a household name with her role as Tulsi Virani, which connected with the audience. Amar Upadhyay spoke about how she went on to become a huge politician, but to him, she was still his co-star. What's Happening Amar Upadhyay spoke about his bond with his co-star Smriti Irani in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. He reveals how nothing has changed even after 25 years, as they returned in their characters for the reboot version. Amar Upadhyay told NDTV, "Tulsi is a very strong personality on television. Today she's a very big politician. She's handled so many ministries. But I never feel she's such a big politician. I always felt that she was my co-star. And when we met on set this time, I think we met as co-stars more than anything else. So it feels the same." The Buzz Ever since the promos of the upcoming reboot series of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi have dropped, fans are buzzing with excitement. Loyal fans of the show can't wait to see Tulsi Virani and Mihir Virani once again grace their screens. Other than Smriti Irani and Amar Upadhyay, Hiten Tejwani as Karan Virani and Gauri Pradhan as Nandini Virani are also going to make a comeback. They, too, were immensely loved as an onscreen couple in the show. They will be joined by new faces Rohit Suchanti, Shagun Sharma, and Aman Gandhi. In A Nutshell Amar Upadhyay spoke about how he never felt that Smriti Irani, who plays Tulsi Virani in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, is a big politician now. As they got back on set for the reboot version, their friendship and comfort remained the same.
NDTV
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Ekta Kapoor On Anupamaa vs Kyunki...: "Pitting Women Against Each Other..."
New Delhi: Ekta Kapoor's cult show Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, now Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi reboot, will have a premiere tonight on Star Plus as well as on a streaming giant. Smriti Irani AKA Tulsi Virani is set to make a grand comeback on television. Ahead of the premiere, producer Ekta Kapoor weighed in on the debate around Anupamaa vs Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, gaining traction on the Internet. What's Happening Speaking to Brut, Ekta Kapoor said, "Yesterday I was seeing some videos of Anupamaa having a problem as Kyunki is coming. I felt that was in such bad taste." She added, "She [Rupali] is such a big star. Anupamaa the show, the creator Rajan... has done what nobody else could do in the last seven years. They will continue to be number 1. They should continue to be number 1." "We are coming in for our purpose. To tell our story. These unfair comparisons between lead characters and lead shows is so unnecessary and pitting women against each other, pitting content against each other is so uncalled for," Ekta concluded. For the unversed, Anupamaa is a show headlined by Rupali Ganguly. Banking on the immense popularity of the show, Rupali cemented her position as one of the highest-paid actresses of the Indian television. The show has been produced by Rajan Shahi. About The OG Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi Originally aired from July 2000 to November 2008 on Star Plus, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi revolved around the ideal daughter-in-law, Tulsi Virani (played by Smriti Irani), the daughter of a pandit who marries Mihir, the grandson of business tycoon Govardhan Virani. Apart from Smriti and Amar Upadhyay, the show also featured Inder Kumar, Ronit Roy, Mandira Bedi and Achint Kaur. In an exclusive conversation with NDTV, Smriti Irani opened up how Ekta Kapoor's reboot version would appeal to the newer generation. She said, "The show spoke about marital rape and euthanasia 25 years ago, and those were not issues that were touched by even mainstream cinema. We did it commercially in a television slot which was meant for family viewing and family drama. You need to understand that 25 years ago, there was no pay parity, where your talent decided and not your gender about how much you will be paid. The fact that Ekta was given a 10:30 slot, which was a dead slot, we created prime time. But that was a female producer, so you had a female producer shunted to a 10:30 slot, they thought maybe you know, let's take a chance."
Indian Express
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘She is lying': What Smriti Irani's miscarriage experience during Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi shoot reveals about work culture and the need for compassion
Smriti Irani recently revisited one of the most painful and challenging moments of her life: working through a miscarriage while shooting for the hit daily soap Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. She recalled continuing to work on set despite dealing with physical pain and emotional trauma. 'My son was three days old when I came back to the set of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. Why? Because everyone wanted to watch a new episode daily at 10:30 pm,' she shared on Raj Shamani's podcast. The actor and politician also revealed the distress of being doubted at such a vulnerable time. 'Somebody in the production went and told Ekta, 'We're ready to shoot. But Smriti Irani isn't available. She is lying. Nothing has actually happened to her.' So I had to go back with my hospital reports to prove it actually happened,' she said. Actor Apara Mehta, who played Smriti's on-screen mother-in-law, corroborated how demanding the work culture was during those years. 'I know Smriti spoke about the miscarriage… I know it for a fact ki use aana bhi pada hoga and karna bhi pada hoga,' she told Hindustan Times, recalling how actors would often be made to shoot from home even while sick, with makeshift backdrops and makeup. Psychologist Anjali Gursahaney tells 'After a miscarriage, a woman's body undergoes several intense physical changes. These can include cramping, heavy bleeding, hormonal fluctuations, fatigue, and in some cases, medical interventions like a dilation and curettage (D&C). The uterus needs time to contract and return to its pre-pregnancy state, while the hormonal system gradually resets, which can also affect mood, appetite, and energy levels.' Rest is critical during this time, not just for physical recovery, she says, but also because pushing through the pain or fatigue can worsen the trauma, delay healing, and lead to long-term complications. Ignoring these needs can be damaging both physically and psychologically. According to Gursahaney, emotional support after a miscarriage should be 'rooted in empathy, validation, and flexibility.' The experience often involves deep grief, shame, or confusion—especially if the loss was not publicly acknowledged. If someone has to return to work soon after, they must be met with understanding rather than expectation. 'Ideally, they should have access to mental health resources like counselling, as well as compassionate communication from colleagues and supervisors. Just being believed, respected, and not asked to justify or 'perform' their pain can go a long way in easing emotional distress during such a vulnerable time,' notes the expert. Workplaces should implement compassionate leave policies specifically for pregnancy loss, separate from generic sick leave. These policies must acknowledge both the physical and emotional toll of miscarriage, without requiring invasive proof. 'Training managers to respond with empathy and confidentiality, and creating space for women to share only what they are comfortable with, can help foster trust. Open conversations about reproductive health and trauma-informed practices can slowly dismantle the silence and stigma that often forces women to either hide their loss or justify it. The goal should be to create a culture where healing is prioritized over productivity,' stresses Gursahaney.
Indian Express
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Ekta Kapoor finds comparison between Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Anupamaa ‘unfair': ‘That's in such bad taste, They'll continue to be number 1'
It's the day of the return of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, arguably the most seminal daily soap to grace the face of Indian television. Produced by Ekta Kapoor's Balaji Telefilms, the reboot will see Smriti Irani return as the popular Tulsi Virani, as the show airs on StarPlus and JioHotstar starting today on July 29. With the return of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi expected to challenge Anupamaa, the show headlined by Rupali Ganguly and produced by Rajan Shahi, Ekta dismissed the 'unfair' and 'unnecessary' comparison. 'That's in such bad taste. She's such a big star! Anupamaa, the show, and Rajan, the creator, have done what nobody could do in the last seven years. They'll continue to be number 1. And they should continue to be number 1,' said Ekta. In the interview with Brut India, she continued, 'We're coming in with our purpose, to tell our story. These unfair comparisons with lead characters and lead shows are so unnecessary. Pitting women against each other, content against each other is so uncalled for.' Like Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Anupamaa also airs on StarPlus and streams on JioHotstar. On Wednesday, StarPlus even dropped a promo which featured a crossover between the two shows. In the promo, Rupali's Anupamaa is seen video-calling Smriti's Tulsi and welcoming her back in Gujarati. She points out that while Anupamaa will air at 10 pm on StarPlus, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi will follow right after at 10:30 pm. Interestingly, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi also first premiered in the 10:30 pm slot back in 2000, right after Amitabh Bachchan's popular quiz show Kaun Banegi Crorepati. In fact, both shows premiered on the same day, July 4, 2000. Sameer Nair, who was the head of programming at StarPlus back then, told SCREEN how Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi never needed a hoarding despite having skyrocketing TRPs across years. However, Smriti Irani recently said in an interview with Mojo Story that putting her show in the 10:30 pm slot in 2000 was more of a 'polite rejection.' She said it was positioned to fail, but Ekta's story saw it through. Nair feels placing Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi right after KBC catapulted it into unprecedented popularity. Ekta recently confessed she was firmly against the idea of bringing back Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi for a second innings on television, but eventually decided to go ahead with it as she wanted to make a show that's not afraid to raise important issues. 'Why would I want to shake up nostalgia? You can never compete with nostalgia. It always remains supreme,' Ekta wrote on her social media before the launch. Also Read — Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2, Traitors, IPL, Kapil Sharma: How streaming is replicating television, the very beast it wanted to tame 'We will never win against nostalgia. The fight though, is not about winning. It is about impact,' added Ekta, further explaining the sociocultural impact the daily soap had on Indian families, particularly women, back in the early 2000s. Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi ran from 2000 till 2008.
News18
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2: Date, Time And Where To Stream Smriti Irani's Show
Last Updated: The iconic family drama returns today, July 29, with original stars Smriti Irani and Amar Upadhyay reprising their roles. One of Indian television's most iconic shows, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, is making a grand return with a brand-new season. The show, which originally aired from July 2000 to November 2008, is being rebooted to mark its 25th anniversary. The new season will premiere today, July 29, at 10:30 PM on Star Plus and will also be available for streaming on JioHotstar. The makers have promised a mix of old and new, blending classic drama with modern storytelling. Fans can expect fresh plotlines while still connecting with the emotions, relationships and family values that made the original such a hit. View this post on Instagram A post shared by StarPlus (@starplus) Original Cast Reunites, New Faces Join In The big highlight of the reboot is the return of beloved characters. Smriti Irani is back as Tulsi Virani, and Amar Upadhyay returns as Mihir, bringing back the chemistry that once made headlines. Alongside them, fan favourites like Hiten Tejwani, Gauri Pradhan, Shakti Anand, and Kamalika Guha will also reprise their roles. To keep things fresh, a new generation of actors has been added to the cast. Viewers will be introduced to Rohit Suchanti, Shagun Sharma, and Aman Gandhi, who will play key roles in the next chapter of the Virani family saga. The show is being produced once again by Ektaa Kapoor, who created the series and turned it into a cultural phenomenon. With her at the helm, the reboot aims to win over both longtime fans and new viewers. Buzz Builds Ahead of Launch The first promo for the new season is already out and has been well-received. It offers a glimpse into the mix of drama, nostalgia, and fresh conflicts the new season will explore. Fans on social media are excited to see Tulsi back on screen and to revisit the story that once ruled Indian households. View this post on Instagram A post shared by StarPlus (@starplus) The original series reportedly ran for 1,833 episodes and became a major part of Indian pop culture. Now, with Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2, the makers hope to recreate that magic for today's audience. For those who want to catch up, all episodes of the classic series are still available to stream on JioHotstar. The show promises emotional drama, strong family ties, and new twists, while holding on to the legacy that made it unforgettable. Whether you are a long-time fan or a new viewer, this reboot promises something for everyone. 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.
