Gautami Kapoor recalls replacing Smriti Irani as Tulsi in ‘Kyunki…’: People were angry, I received a lot of flak

Gautami Kapoor has recently reflected on her television career

In a recent episode of the Hauterrfly podcast, actress Gautami Kapoor opened up about one of the most talked-about moments in her television career — replacing Smriti Irani as Tulsi Virani in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi.

The shift, which occurred after Smriti’s iconic seven-year portrayal of the character, was met with mixed reactions from viewers, and Gautami candidly recalled the pressure that came with stepping into such big shoes.

“Ekta offered me Kyunki… I replaced Smriti for about a year. It was iconic — Smriti was Tulsi for seven years,” Gautami shared. “When Ekta called me, a lot of people were angry. I’ve received flak many times in life, but that’s part of the fun.”

At the time, Gautami had a one-year-old child and wasn’t sure how she’d manage the commitment. But Ekta Kapoor assured her they’d make it work. “She said, ‘Just do it. You trust me… we’ll figure it out,’” Gautami recalled.

True to her word, the production team arranged a flexible schedule. “I used to work only four to five hours a day. That one-month commitment stretched to a year,” she said.

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Despite the controversy, Gautami never personally spoke to Smriti Irani about taking over the role. “I’m sure Ekta must have spoken to her. She just told me, ‘Do your job,’” Gautami added.

Reflecting on her first day on set, she admitted, “I was literally trembling during my first shot. But after that, there was no looking back.”

Gautami’s reflections reveal not just the weight of legacy roles in television but also the resilience and trust it takes to step into a cultural phenomenon midstream.