Cinema VinesAfter a five‑year break from the small screen, former Union Cabinet minister Smriti Irani has returned to television with the launch of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 on Star Plus and JioHotstar. The drama, which premiered on 29 July 2025, sees Irani reprise her iconic role as Tulsi Virani, the mother‑in‑law who once dominated Indian households in the early 2000s.
The comeback follows Irani’s defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Amethi, a setback that prompted her to reassess her future. Rather than stepping away from acting entirely, she chose to re‑enter the industry and even took the initiative to ask for work. Speaking to Times Now, she revealed that she called Uday Shankar, Vice‑Chairman of JioHotstar and Star, and asked, “I’m unemployed; can you give me something?” Shankar, who had been involved with the original Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi before it went off air, was surprised to receive a call from a former cabinet minister and agreed to bring her back.
Irani described the transition as practical rather than emotional. She said that returning to a television set meant long, 12‑hour shifts and a daily grind that was a stark contrast to her political life. “People were wondering how I would work with the daily wages,” she recalled, adding that she was ready for the demands of the set and had no embarrassment about her decision.
The new series reunites Irani with actor Amar Upadhyay, who also appears in the show. The decision to bring her back to the screen was seen by many as a bold move, and it has already sparked conversations about the fluidity between politics and entertainment in India.
