Smriti Malhotra’s portrayal of Tulsi in the widely successful soap opera ‘Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Tthi’ proved to be a pivotal moment in her journey to becoming a small-screen star. Everywhere she went, she was greeted warmly as the beloved Tulsi Virani, the girl-next-door character. Did she experience an identity crisis due to the immense popularity?
Her initial break in television was in Shrey Guleri’s countdown show ‘Bakeman’s Ooh La La.’ During the audition she enjoyed reading the lines, being a performance-oriented countdown show. She was required to compare the old and new ways of portraying women in Hindi cinema. Later, she would embody the blend of modern and traditional in Kyunki Saas.
Ekta Kapoor’s mother, Mrs. Shobha Kapoor, saw her in ‘Ooh La La,’ which led to the role in ‘Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi.’ Before that, she played a weak character in ‘Aatish,’ where she didn’t know how to express herself. Though ‘Aatish’ didn’t succeed, it gave her the opportunity to work with the talented Sanjay Upadhyay. She used what she learned from Upadhyay in her performances in ‘Kyunki Saas’ and ‘Kavita.’
When questioned about the fan response to her role as Tulsi, Smriti mentioned that she wasn’t mobbed, but treated like family by the audience. She took this as the biggest compliment, as they identified with the character, and often called her Tulsi, even on the set of her other show, ‘Kavita.’ The cast of ‘Kyunki Saas’ had become like a real family.
She also shared how strangers would offer advice or comfort during her on-screen conflicts with her mother-in-law, reflecting the emotional investment viewers had in the show.
When her on-screen husband Mihir, played by Amar Upadhyay, died, the reactions from viewers were of deep shock and grief, similar to how one would react to a real-life tragedy. This had a deep impact on her.
She revealed that she had not anticipated the extent of the show’s emotional hold on the audience, stating that she believed such a response was unprecedented in television.
When asked about her acting training, she shared that she had no formal training, believing acting schools can at best sharpen one’s skills, not teach one how to act. Instead, she put herself in Tulsi’s position, and reacted accordingly. She expressed gratitude to Ekta Kapoor for casting her as Tulsi and consciously avoided modeling her performance on others.
She expressed her aspiration to be a performer and acknowledged the challenges of transitioning from a lead role on television to the same status in the film industry. She preferred challenging roles on television.
Her role in the sitcom ‘Kal Aaj Aur Kal’ was an attempt to break away from the serious dramas of ‘Kyunki Saas’ and ‘Kavita,’ aiming to bring smiles to people’s faces.
Her prescription for happiness includes interacting with people and continually enriching her experiences.
Her fiancé (now her husband) was shocked by the popularity of the show and proud of her, a sentiment also shared by her parents, who were initially surprised by her decision to act, but are now proud that she has maintained her dignity in her work.