Mouni Roy recalls Kyunki...days on Smriti Irani's birthday: 'Wanted to be like you then, wish to be like you now'

Mouni Roy recalled how she tried to emulate Smriti Irani during her Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi days. Ekta Kapoor shared a cute video to wish Smriti on her son's behalf.

Mouni Roy has penned a long letter for her former co-star and now Minister of Women and Child Development of India, Smriti Irani on her birthday. Mouni had played the role of Smrit's daughter in the hit Ekta Kapor show, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. While Smriti was in the lead role of Tulsi Virani, Mouni started her career as her onscreen daughter Krishna Tulsi in the show.

Mouni Roy has talked about working with Smriti Irani in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi.

Mouni shared a candid picture of Smriti on Instagram and began the letter, by referring to her as an elder sister. She wrote, “My dearest Smriti di, @smritiiraniofficial. This is my most fav story about you to tell; more than a decade and half back, fresh out of Uni I had joined the cast of Kyunki, unnerved wondering how you may be; I was amazed beyond belief; unlike most of them, how kind you were to me (you didn’t have to be), how sharp & intelligent you were, spoke 7 languages, your outstanding vocabulary, your flare for reading (still have to return your books from 17 years ago), a beautiful nerd, everything that you were blew my mind & heart."

Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi was created by Ekta Kapoor under her banner, Balaji Telefilms. The show ran from 2000 to 2008 on Star Plus.

Smriti Irani reacted to a video posted by Ekta Kapoor on her birthday.

Ekta shared a video on her Instagram Stories, telling her son Ravie, “Trying to call your Maasi to wish her ‘Happy birthday’? Let's make a post for her.” The little one is seen holding the wire of a landline phone. “Happie bday @smritiiraniofficial Maasi. We wanna post a love letter for you! Since you are the best!" Smrita reacted to the post on her Instagram Stories, “My baby and my best friend @ektarkapoor. Love you.”

Ekta then shared a small video along with a letter written on behalf of Ravie. It read, “Dear Smriti Maasi… I am 3 years old and probably I have met you very few times… But every good thing my mom has done to me, she says – she has learnt from you. Like sometimes reading to me. Most importantly… I hear people talking around me that you’re very, very powerful. But to me – you’re a loving maasi that I know will take care of me from far and will be there whenever I need you. It is your birthday today and I wish you get everything that you want in life… because you’re probably the first few people who saw me and blessed me. And I want to give some of those blessings back to you. I love you sooo much because while I know that eventually when I grow up, I will respect women, because I have women like you around me as my Maasi… and if I don’t, I know you will be there to reprimand me and guide me. Lots of love, waiting to see you soon. Your nephew – Ravie.”

Smriti replied to the post, “You will never be reprimanded my dear Ravie … you will live with love and engage with others with respect of that I’m sure .. thank you for your wishes.”

Smriti shot to fame with TV show Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi in 2000. She went on to work in several other shows like Kya Hadsaa Kya Haqeeqat, Teen Bahuraaniyaan, Waaris and also hosted Savdhaan India for some time. She defeated Rahul Gandhi in 2019 general elections to become MP from Amethi and is also the Minister of Women and Child Development in the Union Cabinet.