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Smriti Irani, returning as Tulsi Virani in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2, is now TV’s highest-paid actor at ₹14 lakh per episode, surpassing Rupali Ganguly and Hina Khan. Confirming this, she said, "Not only pay parity, I beat the boys and the girls in how much I make—that is a lot of hard work."

Smriti Irani, who returned as Tulsi Virani in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2, marking her comeback to television, has now become the highest-paid actor in the industry. She has surpassed Rupali Ganguly, who charges approximately ₹3 lakh per episode for Anupamaa, and Hina Khan, who earns up to ₹2 lakh, as Smriti is charging ₹14 lakh per episode for Kyunki.

Smriti Irani Becomes Highest-Paid Actor On TV

The actress confirmed this and told CNN-News18 that such remuneration is justified for professionals who consistently deliver, as it also sets a benchmark for professionals to say that if one can deliver on history, numbers, and revenue, why not? Not everybody who’s watching her knows that they have the option to negotiate their contracts as employees.

"I’m a part of a union, so the first thing I do is actually have my union number registered. We all are part of a larger organisation and flow of work. For one person to stand up and say listen, not only pay parity, I beat the boys and the girls and how much I make that is a lot of hard work," she added.

'I Have Capacity To Make Stars Out Of Others Who're With Me': Smriti

Further, the actress shared that the idea is that one is truly the star or do they have the professional capacity to make stars around them and she thinks that she has it in her and has the capacity to make stars out of others who are with her.

Smriti added, "If there is a Tulsi, then Amar Upadhyay quintessentially creates his own market. So do you become that pivot, that sounding board, that other actors then can enhance their economic value? That I have managed to do through the project, so my co-stars today can say, ‘Oh, we are a part of that.’"

Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 Cast

The reboot stars both Smriti and Amar in the lead, along with Hiten Tejwani, Gauri Pradhan, Rohit Suchanti, Shagun Sharma, Aman Gandhi, Tanisha Mehta, Ankit Bhatia and Prachi Singh in key roles.