One of Indian television’s most unforgettable dramas is finally returning, and audiences can barely contain their excitement. Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, a show that once ruled prime-time slots and redefined daily soaps, is making its way back with a new season. This revival brings with it not just a wave of nostalgia, but also marks Smriti Irani’s long-awaited return to acting. The actress-turned-politician will step once again into the shoes of Tulsi, alongside Amar Upadhyay as Mihir.
In the middle of all this anticipation, Smriti Irani recently joined Karan Johar on We The Women and shared an interesting piece of the show’s history. The conversation turned toward pay parity in the entertainment world, a topic gaining steady momentum over recent years. Smriti didn’t hold back as she recalled how she and producer Ekta Kapoor set an early example of breaking industry stereotypes.
While speaking about those earlier days, Smriti confessed that conversations around equal pay were almost non-existent at the time. Yet, what they managed to achieve was groundbreaking. “Today, in the so-called woke generation that you speak of, there is a huge conversation around pay parity. That is the time we broke the so-called glass ceiling where the female protagonist unabashedly said that I’m paid more than the male actor. We set that template even in terms of parity,” she recalled.
However, the path wasn’t immediate or effortless. Smriti revealed that when she initially signed the contract for Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, her paycheck was far from equal to that of the male lead. She noted, “I was not paid more than the male protagonist when I had signed the contract. I created that space in collaboration with the creator of the show.”
Smriti spoke fondly of Ekta Kapoor’s vision, sharing that even back then, Kapoor was less concerned with immediate profits and more focused on rewriting rules for the industry. “I remember when we did that particular engagement contract; Ekta Kapoor was very focused on the history we were about to create. Everybody else was bothered about the pay cheque. She has always been focused on what the threshold is that she can cross or what new standard she can set.”
While these insights have stirred meaningful conversations about gender dynamics in television, fans of Kyunki are eagerly waiting for what’s ahead. Initially, the revival was set to premiere on July 3, a date chosen for its sentimental value as the original show first aired on that day in 2000. But reports related to creative changes on the new set caused a brief delay in the production schedule. However, it’s now confirmed that the shoot will begin on July 3 itself, aligning with the show’s milestone anniversary.
