| Imagine watching Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi without Tulsi. Believe it or not, that the big surprise (shock?) in store for all you couch potatoes out there. Yes, the pet bahu of the K-parivaar, Tulsi Virani, is reportedly going to go missing!
That's the bad news. The worse news is that Smriti Irani will step down as Tulsi, and there may be no Tulsi in show any more. It may be difficult for viewers who have been seeing Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi bahu Thi for seven years now, to digest, but a brand new character will take over from Smriti Irani's Tulsi. Actresses Gautami Gadgil and Padmini Kolhapure have been approached to take over. Now, will they be able to create a figure as iconic as Tulsi?
Irani's swan song as Tulsi bears testimony to what a sour relationship with Ekta Kapoor can do. "Of late, Ekta and Smriti have been on unpleasant terms. With Smriti venturing into production herself, Kyunki… has not been getting attention from the actress. In fact, things have worsened to such an extent that Ekta backed out from their joint venture Thodi Si Zameen Thoda Sa Aasmaan. Smriti has been playing Tulsi for seven years now, and it's getting very tiresome and boring for her. In the recent past, it has only been a need-based relationship for both Ekta and Smriti," says our source.
Naturally, a move as big as dropping Tulsi's character from the show is being closely guarded. And Balaji is not ready to reveal anything yet. "When we plan out something we will let everyone know," says senior creative head, Balaji, Nivedita Basu.
Irani's shoes will indeed be formidable to step into, for the actresses who have been approached to carry on after Tulsi dies. If Padmini Kolhapure is zeroed in on, it will also mark her small screen debut. When contacted, all that Padmini was ready to divulge was, "I can't say anything right now. I will have to speak to Balaji. I haven't thought about playing the role as yet. I have known Ekta for a long time..."
| | Gautami Gadgil, Padmini Kolhapure |
Gautami Gadgil was, however, more forthcoming and said, "I have been approached by Ekta for Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and another show. Ekta has been really busy of late… I'll go by her judgement. Needless to say, the offers are really good. We will come to a concrete decision soon. Since it will be a comeback for me, it surely has to be very meaty."
The creative team is now in a fix. "Kyunki… and Tulsi are synonymous with each other. It's a big problem for the creative team to give the required twist in the story. Two ideas are in place, either she will die a natural death or she will go missing. Most probably she will meet with an accident and will go missing. That is when a new strong character (as important as Tulsi) will be introduced in the show."
Smriti Irani remained unavailable for comment. |
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