Smriti Irani has confirmed that Bill Gates will be making a special cameo appearance in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2, describing it as a historic moment for Indian television. The Microsoft co-founder will join Irani, who reprises her role as Tulsi Virani, via video call to discuss maternal and newborn health, aligning with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's initiatives.
Irani emphasized that this collaboration marks a groundbreaking moment in Indian entertainment, shifting the spotlight to critical women's and children's health issues. She stated that this initiative is a significant step towards changing the fact that women's and children's health has remained on the margins of mainstream dialogue for too long.
The storyline around Gates' cameo will focus on raising awareness about the health of pregnant women and newborns. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation actively works on these causes, making the collaboration a natural fit. Irani wanted to use the show as a platform to promote health and social awareness through storytelling.
Smriti Irani's past role as the Union Minister for Women and Child Development laid the foundation for her collaboration with Bill Gates. Their paths crossed during her tenure, making his cameo in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 a fitting extension of their shared commitment to these issues.
The show's current season addresses pressing social and women's issues, aligning with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's focus areas and making Gates' participation a meaningful addition. Irani noted that when planning the second season, there was a promise to raise conversations within a traditional storytelling setup. The show has incorporated themes such as body positivity, generational conflict, and women's empowerment into its plot.
A promo released by Star Plus featured Tulsi speaking to someone on a laptop, saying she was pleased that they were connecting with her family directly from America. Social media quickly speculated that the person on the other end was Bill Gates.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 premiered on July 29, 2025, on Star Plus and is also available for streaming on JioHotstar. The show is a sequel and reboot of the original series, which aired from 2000 to 2008 and became one of the most beloved TV shows of all time. Ekta Kapoor, the producer, aims to blend classic storytelling with a fresh perspective to resonate with a younger audience.
