After 25 years Indias iconic daily soap Kyunki...Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi is returning with the original cast including Smriti Irani who became a household name with her character Tulsi and Amar Upadhyay as Mihir Virani. While the release date of Kyunki...Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 has not been disclosed yet; the first look of Smriti as Tulsi was leaked on Monday leaving fans nostalgic. In the image Smriti was seen dressed in a maroon saree. Adding a touch from the past she completed her look with the signature big red bindi traditional jewellery a black-beaded mangalsutra and of course tied her hair in a bun -- the way fans saw her years ago. On reprising her iconic character Smriti in a press note said Returning to Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi is not just a step back into a role but a return to a story that redefined Indian television and reshaped my own life. It gave me more than commercial success; it gave me a connection with millions of homes a place in the emotional fabric of a generation.In the 25 years since Ive straddled two powerful platforms--media and public policy--each with its own impact each demanding a different kind of commitment. Today I stand at a crossroads where experience meets emotion and creativity meets conviction. I return not just as an actor but as someone who believes in the power of storytelling to spark change preserve culture and build empathy. In contributing to this next chapter I hope to honour the legacy of Kyunki--and help shape a future where Indias creative industries arent just celebrated but truly empowered she added. Reacting to Smritis look a social media user on X wrote Tulsi is back! Smriti Iranis return to the screen is sure to revive nostalgia and skyrocket her popularity. From Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi to Parliament -- what a journey! Another user commented Iconic! Cant wait to see her reprise her role of Tulsi. The show which began airing in 2000 quickly became a household name. It ran for eight long years and ruled the TRP charts for most of the time. Created by Ektaa Kapoor and produced under her banner Balaji Telefilms the show was a major hit with viewers and played a big part in shaping Indian TV dramas. Recently the show completed 25 years. And to mark the silver jubilee Smriti shared a heartfelt post on Instagram reflecting on how the show has touched peoples lives. Calling the show an emotion memory ritual Smriti on Instagram wrote 25 years ago a story entered Indian homes and quietly became part of countless lives. Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi wasnt just a show--it was emotion memory ritual. A time when families paused everything to sit together... cry laugh hope. To every viewer who made Tulsi a part of their own family thank you.This journey wasnt mine alone. It was ours. And it always will be. Ektaa Kapoor also shared her feelings on the shows anniversary. Ektaa added a video from the serial along with a caption on Instagram as she looked back on her journey with the show. Calling it a piece of my heart she wrote 25 YEARS!!! Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi wasnt just a show... it was an emotion. A piece of my heart. A dream that started with folded hands and limitless faith in Shri Balaji... a story that became Indias story. It gave @balajitelefilms its first wings... and gave me memories love and characters that continue to live in every home every heart. Even today when someone hums or create reels on the iconic theme Rishton or tells me how Tulsi felt like their own it melts my heart and adds strength to my spirit. Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi followed the life of Tulsi Virani her husband Mihir (played by Amar Upadhyay) and the entire Virani family. The shows story of family love and tradition struck a chord with viewers all across the country. Smriti is making a comeback in the acting field after 15 years. She left acting to dive into politics and even served as the Minister of Women and Child Development. Recently during a conversation with Barkha Dutt and Karan Johar on an episode of We The Women in London Smriti revealed that the sequel had been planned over 10 years agoIf you look at the Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi journey in totality the most well-kept secret about it was I had a contract to do it again in 2014 and I walked away from it because I had to serve in the Indian Parliament as a cabinet minister. The set was ready but there was a phone call from the Prime Ministers office that you have to take an oath she reportedly said.She also spoke about an opportunity she had turned down at the time. I remember Rishi Kapoor telling me to leave now because to serve your country is a greater service than just doing a movie or doing television Irani added.