Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2: Smriti Irani’s powerful monologue as Tulsi Virani wins hearts

Smriti Irani, who became a household name as Tulsi Virani in Ektaa Kapoor’s iconic Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, is once again making headlines with a hard-hitting scene from the rebooted version of the show.

The monologue, highlighting the struggles of countless housewives, has deeply resonated with viewers online.A recently surfaced clip features Smriti’s Tulsi alongside Amar Upadhyay’s Mihir. In the scene, Tulsi confronts Mihir after he lashes out at her for spending ₹10 lakh without his consent. Questioning his sense of entitlement, she asks, “Mere paise? Accha? Ghar humara, bacche humare, paise tumhare?… Shaadi ek 4 pheron se hi toh aagyi thi, tabse ab tak sabke peeche bhaagte bhaagte puchti hi toh rehti hun” (My money? Really? The house is ours, the children are ours, but the money is yours? … Marriage happened with just four pheras, and since then, I’ve been running after everyone, constantly asking—that’s all I’ve been doing).She further points out the inequality in their relationship, questioning whether he ever asks her permission before buying a luxury car or gifting his friends expensive presents. When Mihir tries to dismiss her concerns, Tulsi delivers a sharper blow: “38 saal se tumhara ghar chala rahi hun, salary dete ho mujhe? Salary kya chutti tak nahi milti. Tum chutti lete ho, bacche chutti lete hain, ghar ke naukar chutti lete hain, 38 saal main kya maine kabhi chutti li?” (I’ve been running your household for 38 years do you pay me a salary? Forget salary, I don’t even get a day off.

You take holidays, the kids take holidays, even the house help takes holidays have I ever taken one?).Tulsi’s monologue, where she also admits to not knowing her own account number despite decades of managing the household, culminates in a striking reminder of women’s unacknowledged rights, “Zindagi bhar ek aurat ko usko stree dharm sikhaya jaata hai, streedhan ki toh kabhi baat nahi hoti? Toh yeh maanke chalo yeh 10 lakh rupay mera streedhan tha.”

(All her life, a woman is taught about her duties as a wife, but never about her rightful wealth—streedhan.

So let’s assume these ₹10 lakh were my streedhan).The dialogue has taken social media by storm. While one fan wrote, “How sweetly she said all of this, just imagine if Anupamaa was in this scene,” another commented, “She explained it so politely; if it were me, I would have screamed in his face.” Many praised Smriti Irani and Ektaa Kapoor for reviving old memories, with one remarking, “This dialogue is going to change so many households.”