Smriti Irani reflects on impact of Tulsi Virani character

Actress and politician Smriti Irani reflected on the 25th anniversary of her iconic television character, Tulsi Virani, from the series ‘Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi’. Irani credited producer Ekta Kapoor with transforming Indian entertainment by placing women at the center of prime-time television.

Irani highlighted academic research from Harvard University titled ‘The Power of TV: Cable Television and Women’s Status in India’. The study suggested that exposure to such television programming in rural India was linked to shifting attitudes regarding women’s autonomy, education, and domestic violence. Irani noted that stories can expand societal possibilities by allowing viewers to imagine new roles for themselves.