Latest news with #TulsiVirani
NDTV
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Smriti Irani's Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 Scripts History As It Clocks 1.6 Billion Views In Launch Week
New Delhi: Smriti Irani had won hearts as Tulsi Virani back in 2000, when Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi aired for the first time. After 25 years, as Ekta Kapoor's most popular daily soap returned with a reboot version, fans were ecstatic. What's Happening As Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 completes one week, it has scripted history once again. The show recorded over 1.659 billion minutes of watch time across television and streaming platforms. Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 has received 31.1 million TV viewers in just four days. 15.4 million viewers out of this had tuned in for the premiere episode alone, according to a press release. According to the channel, the reboot season also witnessed 17,300 mentions across social media platforms. The latest count makes Smriti Irani-led Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 the highest-rated fiction launch across general entertainment channels (GECs) in recent times and the biggest-ever GEC fiction debut across both television and digital in India, the release added. Sumanta Bose, Head of Cluster, Entertainment (Star Plus and Bharat, Bengali, Marathi and Gujarati), JioStar, issued a statement, "The record-breaking numbers across Star Plus reaffirm our belief in the timeless appeal of compelling narratives. This launch is a cultural moment that bridges generations, and we are proud to have delivered it to millions of homes across platforms." He added, "The return of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi has proven that great storytelling never loses its power. We approached this launch with a two-fold vision: to reignite the deep nostalgia associated with one of India's most iconic shows, while also crafting a contemporary storyline and viewing experience that resonates with today's audiences." Background Actor-turned-politician Smriti Irani returns as the iconic Tulsi Virani in this revival of the early 2000s prime-time hit. A mix of familiar faces and new cast members adds a refreshing touch to it. The reboot has brought back popular characters such as Tulsi Virani, played by Smriti Irani, and Mihir Virani, played by Amar Upadhyay, along with a younger cast. In A Nutshell Smriti Irani's Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 has recorded over 1.659 billion minutes of watch time across television and streaming platforms. The popular daily soap has once again broken records with high ratings and a vast viewership across platforms.
NDTV
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
After Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2, Smriti Irani On Becoming TV's Highest-Paid Actor: "I Beat The Boys And The Girls"
Smriti Irani recently made her acting comeback in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2. The actress reprised her iconic role of Tulsi Virani in the show. Smriti Irani's paycheck for the stint is impressive. She's reportedly charging Rs 14 lakh per episode, making her the highest-paid actor on Indian television. Smriti Irani herself confirmed being the highest-paid television actor. In an interview with CNN-News18, she was asked about her journey from being a struggling actress to becoming television's top earner. To this, the 49-year-old smiled and said, 'Yes, I see the glee on your face." She added, 'You also set that benchmark as a professional to say that if you deliver on history on numbers and revenue, why not? Because not everybody who's watching us knows we get to negotiate our contracts as employees. We are all a part of a larger organisation and flow of work. For one person to stand up and say 'Listen, not only pay parity, I beat the boys and the girls and how much I make that is a lot of hard work.'" Smriti Irani claimed that she has the ability to elevate the careers of her co-stars. 'The idea is, are you truly the star or do you have the professional capacity to make stars around you? I think that I have actually, mercifully, had the capacity of making stars out of others who are with me. If there is a Tulsi, then Amar Upadhyay quintessentially creates his own market. So do you become that pivot, that sounding board, that other actors can then enhance their economic value? That I have managed to do through the project, so my co-stars today can say, 'Oh, we are a part of that.'," she said. Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi first aired in 2000. The show ran for eight long years and released more than 1500 episodes. It centered on Tulsi Virani, a devoted daughter-in-law of the influential Virani family, as she battled through the complexities of family dynamics, tradition, and moral dilemmas. The reboot features both Smriti and Amar Upadhyay in the lead, along with Hiten Tejwani, Gauri Pradhan, Rohit Suchanti, Shagun Sharma, Aman Gandhi, Tanisha Mehta, Ankit Bhatia and Prachi Singh in key roles. The show premieres on StarPlus and is available to stream online on JioHotstar
Time of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Smriti Irani's per episode paycheck for Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 makes her highest paid TV actor. How much is it?
Confirming the Highest Pay The Show and Its Legacy Actor and politician Smriti Irani has made a notable return to Indian television by reprising her iconic role of Tulsi Virani in the reboot of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. Reports indicate that Irani is commanding a fee of Rs 14 lakh per episode for the show, establishing her as the highest-paid actor in the Indian TV figure significantly surpasses the earnings of her contemporaries, such as Rupali Ganguly from Anupamaa, who reportedly earns around Rs 3 lakh per episode, and Hina Khan, who gets approximately Rs 2 lakh, as per Indian a recent interview with CNN-News18, Smriti Irani openly confirmed that she is indeed the highest-paid actor on Indian television today. Reflecting on her journey from a struggling newcomer who first took on the role of Tulsi in 2000, she acknowledged the significance of this achievement. She explained that such remuneration is justified for professionals who consistently deliver high viewership and revenue, setting a professional benchmark for others in the also highlighted the negotiation process behind actors' contracts, something the general audience may not fully realize. She mentioned being part of a union and registering her union number, underscoring the collective framework that governs actors' work and pay. According to her, standing out by achieving pay parity and surpassing industry standards is a result of persistent hard Irani took pride not only in her financial success but also in her ability to uplift those around her. She stated that a true star is not just one who shines individually but one who helps create opportunities and recognition for co-actors. Referring to her colleagues on the show, such as Amar Upadhyay, she noted that her presence has contributed to their growing market value, enhancing their professional stature as Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, which originally aired from 2000 to 2008, was a cultural phenomenon centered around Tulsi Virani, the virtuous daughter-in-law navigating family dynamics and societal challenges. The show made Smriti Irani a household name and played a crucial role in shaping Indian television's soap opera current reboot features Smriti Irani alongside lead actors Amar Upadhyay, Hiten Tejwani, Gauri Pradhan, and others. The series is available on StarPlus and JioCinema, attracting audiences eager for nostalgia and fresh drama alike.
NDTV
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 Tops TRP Charts, Beats Rupali Ganguly's Anupamaa
New Delhi: Smriti Irani's Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi has made a strong comeback with its second season, broadcaster Star Plus announced on Thursday. What's Happening In its launch week, the show recorded over 1.659 billion minutes of watch time across television and streaming platforms. The Ekta Kapoor-created show, which premiered on July 29, received an overwhelming response. It attracted 31.1 million TV viewers in just four days. Of these, 15.4 million tuned in for the premiere episode alone, according to a press release. This performance makes it the highest-rated fiction launch across general entertainment channels (GECs) in recent times and the biggest-ever GEC fiction debut across both television and digital in India, the release added. The show also topped the weekly television rating points (TRP) charts, tying with Anupamaa at a TRP of 2.3, as per data from the Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC). It ranked ahead of Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai (2.0), Laughter Chefs (2.0), and Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah (1.9), cementing its position as the most-watched fiction show of the week. Background In this revival of the early 2000s prime-time hit, actor-turned-politician Smriti Irani returns as the iconic Tulsi Virani, alongside a mix of familiar faces and new cast members. "The return of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi has proven that great storytelling never loses its power. We approached this launch with a two-fold vision: to reignite the deep nostalgia associated with one of India's most iconic shows, while also crafting a contemporary storyline and viewing experience that resonates with today's audiences. The record-breaking numbers across Star Plus reaffirm our belief in the timeless appeal of compelling narratives. This launch is a cultural moment that bridges generations, and we are proud to have delivered it to millions of homes across platforms," Sumanta Bose, Head of Cluster, Entertainment (Star Plus and Bharat, Bengali, Marathi and Gujarati), JioStar, said in a statement. The show has also generated over 17,300 mentions across social media platforms, according to the channel. The reboot has brought back popular characters such as Tulsi Virani, played by Smriti Irani, and Mihir Virani, played by Amar Upadhyay, along with a younger cast. The first season, produced by Balaji Telefilms under Ekta Kapoor, premiered in 2000 and went on to become one of Indian television's longest-running and most popular daily soaps.
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Ekta Kapoor's Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 creates history, gets 1.6 billion views in launch week
Smriti Irani aka Tulsi Virani made a historic comeback in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi's reboot version a week ago. Besides love from fans, Ekta Kapoor's iconic TV show has already created history with its numbers in the launch week itself. According to PTI, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 recorded over 1.659 billion minutes of watch time. The show drew 31.1 million TV viewers within four days. As per its television channel Star Plus, this is the largest-ever GEC fiction debut on television and digital platforms in India, and the highest-rated fiction launch across GECs in recent times. Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi had a TRP of 2.5, overtaking top shows – Anupamaa and Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, on the weekly television rating points (TRP) charts, as per data from the Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC). After its premiere, it easily became one of the most-watched fiction shows of the week. In an interview with Times Now recently, Smriti Irani opened up about her show Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi breaking records and becoming a significant part of Indian television history. 'Humare show ne itihaas racha television ke liye. Log kehte hai history doesn't repeat itself; well, I guess we have defeated that. Itihaas humne dohraya (Our show created history. People often say history doesn't repeat itself, but I guess we proved that wrong. We repeated history),' she said. ALSO READ | Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2: Mihir Virani shames wife Tulsi Virani for being a bad parent while she lets their son rot in jail Mentioning that such an occurrence might not be possible today in the television industry, the actor-politician added, 'Aaj agar aap kahein ki koi aisa show hai, jo aaj chal raha hai or 25 saal baad dobara reinvent or re-live ho sakta hai, mujhe nahi lagta. Toh apne aap mein television main is uplabdhi ko paana chhoti baat nahi hai (If someone claims there's a show currently airing that could be recreated or relived 25 years from now, I don't believe that's possible. So, achieving that kind of milestone on Indian television is no small achievement).' The reboot version of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi premiered on Star Plus on July 29 at 10:30 pm. Produced by Balaji Motion Pictures, the OG cast, including Smriti Irani, Shakti Anand, Ketki Dave, Hiten Tejwani, Gauri Pradhan and Amar Upadhyay reprised their roles. Many new members joined the show, including, Shagun Sharma, Aman Gandhi and Rohit Suchanti. The first season had around 1,833 episodes, making it one of the longest-running shows at the time, but the new season will have a limited number of episodes. The OG season first aired in 2000 and ran until 2008.
