Smriti Irani, who rose to fame with her iconic role as Tulsi Virani in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, is all set to make her television comeback after a hiatus of more than 15 years in the show's reboot. On Monday evening, after months of speculation, delays, and buzz, the makers finally unveiled the first look, confirming that the cult classic is returning to television with a brand new season.
Opening up about her comeback, Smriti addressed whether she felt nervous about the show returning to television after 25 years. She told NDTV, "I'm a politician, nothing that you throw at me will make me nervous ever." She further stated that she is a 'full-time politician, part-time actor,' and just like other politicians who are part-time lawyers, teachers, or journalists, she too will now be a part-time actor.
"I've done it simultaneously, which is what I think is difficult to grasp," she added. Smriti stated that the only difference between her and other political workers is that while they may be part-time lawyers or professionals, they won't have a videographer, a makeup artist, or a scriptwriter accompanying them. She added that they all perform similar duties in different locations, the only difference is that she happens to be in the spotlight.
Speaking about her return to the screen, Smriti said, "For a 49 year old to have a 25 year run, not only in media, but also politics... That is a blessed run, because in our country's history, never has somebody managed to, with God's blessings, managed to be successful in both these very competitive fields. And more so, if you're a woman to be at the top of the game continuously for two and a half decades in media and politics is no mean feat. But that is also somewhere where destiny and luck has had a role to play."
She admitted that after 25 years, there is a 'huge difference' in how television is perceived today compared to how it was positioned back then.
Reacting to trolls, Smriti said, "If you are in public life, you have to be ready for it. You cannot say that, Oh, I'll be shy while just because you're attacking me. You can't leverage the victim card. You have to be ready for it. You also have to understand that you're at a higher plane in life, where you recognise that this may be somebody's way of venting, maybe possibly emanating from a challenge they are facing in their public life or their private life, and they don't know how to respond. So you just take it with a pinch of salt."
