The new Tulsi
(1 votes, average: 1 out of 5)Gautami Kapoor who has taken over from Smriti Irani as Tulsi in “Kyunkii Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Tthi” doesn’t know what she’s in for. Or does she?
“I know taking over Tulsi is a huge scary responsibility. I’m aware ‘Kyunkii Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Tthi’ is watched not just in India but world-over. But this was just the challenge I was looking for at this stage of my life. I know I’m under pressure. But I know my responsibilities as an actress. And I love my job.”
Gautami confessed that she hasn’t been ambitious all these years. “So far I took on whatever came my way. But now I have reached a stage where I have got a little stagnant playing wife and mother at home. I took a break to look after my daughter Siya. It helped me realize how much I enjoy work. Tulsi is as big as it gets,” she said.
For the last six months Gautami had been meeting various television producers. “Honestly I was so keen to get back to work I wouldn’t have minded signing even a parallel role,” she said.
Gautami’s last serial was “Lipstick” on Zee television channel. “And even there I had replaced Shveta Salve. Can you believe it? I’m a replacement girl. But replacing Smriti Irani as Tulsi is a huge responsibility. My mother who is an avid ‘Kyunkii Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Tthi’ fan hasn’t missed a single episode. She’s very excited for me. But sadly for her, as I’m sure for women across the world, Tulsi is Smriti.
“Smriti created this whole graph for the character. I won’t even dare to go there. I’ll play Tusli my own way. I’m a spontaneous actress. Fortunately, the creative team at Balajee has given me the liberty to play Tulsi my way. They don’t want me to ape anybody. In fact if I had been told to follow Smriti I’d have refused the role.”
Gautami started paying attention to the show when she heard she might be roped in to play Tulsi. “When Ekta met me the first time she didn’t tell me I was being considered to play Tulsi,” she said.
Her only pre-condition while taking on the role was flexible work hours. “With a baby at home I need that flexibility. Once Ekta agreed to that, there was no hitch. My mother and mother-in-law will take care of my daughter. I wanted this challenge to happen. It’s scary. But I’m ecstatic that this has happened to me.
“I’ll take it one day a time. I’ll carry no baggage forward. But yes, the look is the same for me as Smriti. I’ll have the grey hair, the saris. Tulsi can’t come back with a different get-up. As it is audiences will have to get used to a new face and body.
“I’m prepared to take the criticism. If the love and adulation follows, fabulous! And if people on the streets start referring to me instead of Smriti as Tusli then that would be a great achievement for me” said Gautami
— IANS
Leave a Reply