Veteran television actress Jaya Bhattacharya, who rose to prominence with her portrayal of the stern yet layered character Payal in the iconic TV serial Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, recently opened up about an unusual incident that took place during the show’s peak popularity. The actress shared how, during a public outing, a fan confused her identity in a way that left her both amused and a little perplexed.
In a candid revelation, Jaya spoke about how an enthusiastic fan once approached her in an overexcited manner — not because they recognized her, but because they believed she was Smriti Irani, who played the legendary character of Tulsi Virani in the same series. Jaya recalled how the fan had actually pulled her hand excitedly, assuming she was Smriti, and kept insisting she was ‘Tulsi Bhabhi.’
Jaya said, “It was one of those moments where you don’t know whether to laugh or correct them. This person grabbed my hand and wouldn’t let go, calling me Tulsi and praising my performance. I tried explaining that I was not Smriti, but they simply refused to believe it.”
While such mix-ups are not uncommon in the entertainment industry, especially when a show becomes a nationwide sensation, Jaya admitted it felt surreal at the time. She said she had immense respect for Smriti Irani’s contribution to the show and understood how deeply Tulsi’s character had touched audiences.
“But it also reminded me of how deeply invested people were in those characters. To them, we weren’t just actors — we were real people living in their living rooms every night. That kind of love is overwhelming,” she added.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time that cast members from Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi have spoken about the public’s emotional connection to the show. The Ekta Kapoor mega-serial, which aired for eight long years, wasn’t just a television drama — it was a cultural phenomenon. For many fans, the characters became more than fictional figures; they were like family.
Jaya also reflected on how the television landscape has changed since those days, saying that while today’s shows may come and go quickly, the emotional grip that shows like Kyunki had on audiences was something truly rare. “Those days, people genuinely believed in what they saw. The love, the hate, the drama — they felt all of it with us,” she said.
As for being mistaken for Smriti Irani, Jaya now laughs it off as one of the many memorable moments in her journey as an actress. “It just shows the impact the show had, and I’m proud to have been a part of something so big,” she concluded.
The incident serves as a heartwarming reminder of how television once deeply connected audiences and stars, blurring the lines between reel and real.
