| Tulsi ki Smriti |
A month after Gautami Kapoor replaced Smriti Irani as Tulsi in Kyunkii, the viewers are yet to reconcile. Gauri Kohli finds out that the bond between Smriti and Tulsi is as strong as it gets and there is yet again a need for change |
Smriti Irani and Gautami Kapoor - these are not just names or people, they are very carefully adjusted dosages of heroin for mass administration or so the TRP symptoms will tell you. They have been synonymous with Tulsi, a name as politically correct as the personality on television.
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Most viewers by now know that serial queen Ekta Kapoor is the only saviour of the Virani clan, orchestrating a plastic surgery even for television's most potent face - that of Tulsi Virani, thanks to her fallout with actor Smriti Irani. It was hard to imagine life without Tulsi and Ekta knew that very well. So, with kitschy intrigue which has become her signature tune, she managed Smriti's exit from the show and the entry of Gautami Kapoor in her place.
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But this time round, her gamble seems to have failed. Post Smriti's exit and Gautami's entry, the TRPs started falling - first time since the inception of Indian television's most popular show. And thus the job of Gautami became much more challenging. So, has Gautami tided over the crises? Foray conducted a poll to find out and the findings were somewhat expected.
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Unlike Smriti's firebrand Tulsi, Gautami, the respondents universally felt, has weakened the character. She comes across as a meek and submissive Tulsi, a trait viewers are never likely to adjust to.
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So, will Ekta, for once, bow to her viewers' demand and bring back Smriti at some later date? The speculation is picking up already.
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Ask Smriti what she feels about Gautami and she feigns ignorance. "I never got a chance to watch myself for seven years as Tulsi. How do you expect me to watch anyone else?" she says.
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For Gautami, making a comeback to the small screen after two years was not easy, moreso donning television's most coveted role. "Playing Tulsi after Smriti was no mean challenge. Very few actors get to play such a role. I'm fortunate to be Tulsi," she says. Despite Smriti's immense popularity, Gautami has full faith in winning the audience. "Since the day my first episode was aired, I have been getting mixed reactions. Half the viewers are sad about Smriti quitting and feel betrayed because they related to her for seven years. But there are others who see me as a welcome change," she says.
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Gautami says she was prepared for the flak. "I knew initially there would be a lot of criticism. The audience takes a while to accept change," she says.
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Besides the age and the look, there is not much difference between Tulsi and Gautami. "I'm a modern day woman like her and believe in family values. I am pretty much like Tulsi," says Gautami. After all, sporting gray hair and a cotton sari at age 30 is challenging.
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"If Smriti comes back, I would step down graciously because there can't be Kyunkii... without Smriti," Gautami accepts graciously.
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| Talking to respondents, it seems she may just have to do that sooner than later. While an overwhelming 90 per cent wanted Smriti back as Tulsi, 98 per cent said Irani had better screen presence and only eight per cent rated Gautami as very good in the role. |
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