Smriti Irani breaks her silence on the 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2' vs 'Anupamaa' TRP race

The return of 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi' earlier this year sparked nostalgia among fans, with the show initially topping the TRP charts. However, 'Anupamaa' soon reclaimed its number one spot, leading to comparisons and perceived rivalry between lead stars Smriti Irani and Rupali Ganguly. Both actresses have addressed these comparisons, emphasizing their shows' unique strengths and value. Smriti Irani highlighted 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi's unmatched legacy, while Rupali Ganguly welcomed Smriti's return, calling comparisons unfair.

Reacting to the TRP race

Regarding the TRP race, Smriti Irani mentioned she had seen ratings as high as 30 when 'Kyunki' first aired in 2000. "So when somebody gets to number 30 in terms of TRPs, then you can be our competition, right? We were there 25 years ago. If you have the capacity to be remembered for 25 years, then we will talk about competition," told India Today.

She went on, "If you have been a three-time MP, a cabinet minister for a decade, a BJP person for 25 years -- if you want to compete, you have to be fair to everybody in the so-called competitive sphere. Do you measure up on all these standards? Then compete. You can't have somebody who's just started something and say, 'Compete with Smriti Irani."

Smriti talks about the affection received by the show

Known for her role as Tulsi Virani, Irani added that there's no guarantee any show today could return after 25 years and receive the same affection. "So the competition or even referring to such a competition is unfair, because you'll never get to 30. And you'll never be consistently number one for eight years, which we were. The fact that we've had competitive mediums, and yet managed to come back after 25 years -- that's remarkable."

She continued, "Today, it's not as if I am acting or conveying a story only on television. I have both. So if I look at the reference numbers on OTT, which is a very hard market to crack, it is so complex. So, for a show that is so-called old school to resonate so loudly on OTT, that speaks volumes."

Smriti talks about Ektaa’s efforts

Smriti Irani acknowledged Ekta Kapoor's role in creating a legend, reflecting on her own success and how, due to the popularity of her shows, the production company was among the first television entities to be listed on the Stock Exchange. "So, I mean, am I competing with anybody at the Stock Exchange? So [all these competition talks] I think it's foolhardy," she concluded.