For Smriti Malhotra, the role of Tulsi in ‘Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi’ was a defining experience, launching her career in television. She was recognized and greeted as Tulsi Virani, the beloved character. Did she struggle with an identity crisis due to her immense popularity?
Her debut on television was with Shrey Guleri’s countdown show ‘Bakeman’s Ooh La La.’ During the audition, she enjoyed reading her lines. It was a performance-oriented countdown show. She was required to compare the old and new ways of portraying women in Hindi cinema. Now she was playing the blend of modern and traditional in Kyunki Saas.
Ekta Kapoor’s mother, Mrs Shobha Kapoor, saw her in ‘Ooh La La.’ That’s how she got ‘Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi.’ Before that she played a weak and under-confident character in ‘Aatish.’ She was a girl who doesn’t know how to express herself in life. Unfortunately, ‘Aatish’ didn’t click. But it gave her a chance to work with a talented director like Sanjay Upadhyay. In ‘Kyunki Saas’ and ‘Kavita’ she used what she learned from Sanjay Upadhyay in ‘Aatish’.
When asked about the fan response to her part as Tulsi in ‘Kyunki Saas…’, Smriti mentioned that she didn’t get mobbed like a star. She was treated like a member of every family that watches ‘Kyunki Saas…’. That’s the biggest compliment for her as an actress. They didn’t think of her as an actress. They thought of her as the character she played. They called out to her as Tulsi. Even on the sets of her other serial ‘Kavita’ they called her Tulsi. The cast of ‘Kyunki Saas’ became like a real-life family.
She shared that strangers would offer advice on how to cope with mother-in-law problems, reflecting the strong connection the audience had with the show’s storyline.
After the death of her screen husband Mihir, played by Amar Upadhyay, everyone was shocked. They behaved as one would behave with one’s own daughter or daughter-in-law if such a tragedy were to happen in her life. This impacted her.
She expressed that she never anticipated this kind of response. While the bond between the soap and the audience was strong, the depth of it surprised them. She didn’t think this had ever happened in the history of television.
When asked about her acting training, Smriti stated that she had no formal training. She believed acting schools can, at the most, sharpen your skills. You can’t be taught how to act. She placed herself in Tulsi’s position and reacted accordingly. She was thankful to Ekta Kapoor for giving her Tulsi.
She aspired to be a performer. She didn’t see a possibility of being slotted in the typical heroine’s role. She was going slow and steady on television, accepting challenging roles.
When asked about her role in the sitcom ‘Kal Aaj Aur Kal,’ she mentioned that she was just trying to break away from the serious dramatics of ‘Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Tthi’ and ‘Kavita.’ She didn’t want people to burst into tears each time they saw her. She wanted them to smile and be happy.
Her prescription for happiness included meeting a lot of people, believing that a performer needs to refurbish life’s experiences all the time.
Her fiancé (now her husband) had seen some episodes of ‘Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi.’ He was shocked by its popularity. He’s very proud of her. Her parents are very proud of her. They were surprised when she announced her intention to act. They are very happy and proud that she has preserved her dignity.