Actress Swati Sharma, who plays Vaishnavi in 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2', has opened up about the inevitable comparisons her character draws to Mouni Roy's beloved Krishna Tulsi from the original series — and why she would rather not entertain them. Speaking ahead of the show's growing buzz, Swati said she stepped into the role without the weight of the original on her shoulders.

Swati's Take on the Comparison

"Honestly, I haven't watched the first part of Kyunki, so I can't really comment on how similar my character was to Mouni's. When I was cast, a few articles were saying it would be somewhat on those lines, but I really don't know how much similarity there actually was," Swati said. The actress, who has previously appeared in shows like 'Yeh Hai Chahatein', 'Chahenge Tumhe Itna', and 'Tu Dhadkan Main Dil', said she chose to approach Vaishnavi entirely on her own terms.

The parallel, however, is hard to ignore. When Mouni Roy made her television debut in 2006 with Ekta Kapoor's original 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi', she played Krishna Tulsi — an adopted village girl welcomed into the sprawling Virani household, introduced as a daughter-figure and protege to the central protagonist Tulsi Virani. Vaishnavi's arc in the reboot follows a strikingly similar template.

The Marital Rape Track That Defined Her Journey

Despite the comparison chatter, Swati is clear-eyed about the weight Vaishnavi's storyline carried in its own right. "If I look at Vaishnavi's journey individually, I feel it was a very important and major track. Especially the Parth, Vaishnavi and Reyansh chapter — the marital rape track. The emotions, the layering of the character, the journey from hatred to friendship to love to facing physical abuse... this journey gave me a lot to perform," she said.

She described it as among the most rewarding creative experiences of her career so far. "It was one of the best things that happened to me on Kyunki, and I got a lot of appreciation for that track. As an actor, when you get such depth and such an emotional graph to portray, it really challenges you and helps you grow," Swati added.

Why She Refuses to Be Measured Against Mouni Roy

Swati was emphatic about not drawing personal comparisons with the Brahmastra actress. "I definitely don't want to compare myself with Mouni. She's a great star and she has come a long way. She started with television, and today she is doing films and getting appreciated for her work. She has reached a completely different level," she said. Her position reflects a broader awareness that Mouni's trajectory — from daily soap to Bollywood — is a benchmark few have matched.

Her closing thought was revealing: "For now, I'd rather compare myself with who I was yesterday and see how far I've come. That is what keeps me grounded and motivated to do better."

About the Show

'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2' premiered on 29 July 2025 and functions as both a direct sequel and a reboot of the iconic early-2000s series. It marks the return of Smriti Irani and Amar Upadhyay as Tulsi and Mihir Virani, with the show once again created by Ekta Kapoor. The reboot has already drawn attention for tackling socially sensitive storylines, with Vaishnavi's arc among its most discussed threads.

Whether Swati Sharma can carve a legacy independent of the Krishna Tulsi shadow will likely depend on how the show — and her character's arc — develops in the weeks ahead.