‘I’m a full-time politician, part-time actor and…’ – Firstpost

Politician and actor Smriti Irani on Monday said reprising her role as Tulsi Virani, the ideal daughter-in-law from “Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi”, is not just about stepping back into a role but about returning to a story that redefined Indian television and shaped her life.

The hit show, which ran from 2000 to 2008 on Star Plus and portrayed the goings-on in a business family, returns in a new avatar on the platform. The buzz intensified on Monday when an image of Irani, dressed in a maroon saree, started circulating on various social media platforms with many describing it as a her first look from the show.

Talking about her return, Irani told NDTV, “I’m a politician, nothing that you throw at me will make me nervous ever.”

“Just like many politicians are part-time lawyers, part-time teachers, part-time journalists. I just happen to be a part-time actor. I’ve done it simultaneously, which is what I think is difficult to grasp.

“Like I said, the only difference between me and my other political workers is they are part-time lawyers, and there’s no videographer along with them. There’s no makeup person along with them, there’s a script writer. It’s just that we’re all from different locations. I’m just the one in the spotlight,” she added.

On the iconic show

“In contributing to this next chapter, I hope to honour the legacy of Kyunki-and help shape a future where India’s creative industries aren’t just celebrated, but truly empowered,” Irani said in a statement titled “Some journeys come full circle—not for nostalgia, but for purpose”.

“Today, I stand at a crossroads where experience meets emotion, and creativity meets conviction. I return not just as an actor, but as someone who believes in the power of storytelling to spark change, preserve culture, and build empathy.”