Mumbai, October 2, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Actress-politician Smriti Irani has reflected on the cultural impact of her iconic character Tulsi Virani from Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, as the character marks 25 years since first entering Indian homes.
Irani credited producer Ekta Kapoor with placing women at the centre of prime-time television and changing the way stories were told on the small screen.
Taking to Instagram, Irani reshared a video discussing research titled “The Power of TV: Cable Television and Women’s Status in India”, conducted by economists at Harvard University. The research examined the association between exposure to cable television and changing attitudes towards women in rural India, including views on women’s autonomy and domestic violence.
Reflecting on Tulsi’s journey, Irani wrote that neither she nor the character could have anticipated the reach and influence the role would eventually have.
She described Kapoor as a young producer who “trusted her instinct” and helped change the “grammar of Indian entertainment” by putting women at the heart of prime-time television.
Irani also referred to academic research on the spread of cable television in rural India, saying it found an association between television exposure and changing attitudes towards issues including women’s autonomy, education and domestic violence.
“Stories don’t just reflect society. Sometimes, they quietly expand what society believes is possible,” Irani wrote.
She added that a fictional character could challenge a social boundary before someone found the confidence to question a similar boundary in their own life.
Irani further reflected on the generations that grew up watching Tulsi, writing that many of the young women who watched the character are now raising daughters of their own.
“Perhaps that is the true measure of a story,” she wrote, adding that although an episode ends and years pass, “somewhere, the story continues.”
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi first aired in 2000, with Irani’s portrayal of Tulsi Virani becoming one of the most recognisable characters in Indian television.
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