Smriti Irani’s 77678% hike for Kyunki 2 sparks pay gap debate: Amar Upadhyay to get less than half, Jaya Bhattacharya was least paid

As Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi returns with a much-awaited reboot, all eyes are on actress and former Minister of Education of India Smriti Irani, not just for her comeback as the iconic Tulsi Virani, but also for her jaw-dropping fee of Rs 14 lakh per episode. The whopping amount marks a staggering rise from her humble beginnings, when she reportedly earned just Rs 1800 per episode in the original run in 2000. While her return brings nostalgic excitement, the massive pay disparity between its lead actress, Smriti and other co-actors, such as Amar Upadhyay (who played Mihir) and Jaya Bhattacharya (who played Payal), has sparked widespread discussion. Let's find out who is earning how much.


The return is special for many reasons. First, it is a nostalgic feeling for fans to watch Mihir and Tulsi together after 25 years. But what's catching everyone's attention is the whopping salary hike of Irani, which is about Rs 14 lakh per episode, reports TOI.

The report also reveals that Smriti Irani is set to reprise her iconic role as Tulsi Virani in the reboot. For the unversed, when the show was first aired in 2000, the actress-turned-politician was reportedly paid Rs 1,800 per episode. However, the production team has not yet released any official confirmation on the same.


During an old conversation with Curly Tales, Smriti Irani once shared a fascinating anecdote about how fate, not just talent, played a surprising role in her being cast as Tulsi Virani in the show. She recalled the moment and revealed that her selection wasn’t driven by her acting experience or screen presence, but rather by an unexpected twist. “That didn't happen because of persona or personality or anything else," she said.

According to Smriti, the astrologer, who was apparently a face reader, spotted her wandering in the office and urged Ekta Kapoor to cast her, cementing a destiny that would go on to reshape Indian television, and the minute the astrologer finished talking, Ekta Kapoor immediately came back and asked her what she was singing and offered her the role.

She also revealed that as per the contract, she was getting paid around Rs 1200 to 1300 per day at that time.


On the other hand, fans are excited to see Amar Upadhyay, a.k.a. Mihir Virani, again on their television screens, but you will be shocked to know his fees in the show!

According to News24, Amar Upadhyay is also going to return to the show with Irani. But there is a striking difference in the fees of this iconic couple. Amar Upadhyay’s per-episode fee is not even half of what Smriti Irani earns, highlighting a significant disparity in their daily remuneration, the report notes. The report revealed that the lead male actor is only charging Rs 1.5 lakh per episode for 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 3.'

The gap between their paychecks is substantial, despite both being lead actors in the show.

Jaya Bhattacharya was the most underpaid actor on set

Not Amar Upadhyay, but the actor who played the role of Payal in the show, Jaya Bhattacharya, during a recent podcast on Siddharth Kannan's YouTube channel, shared that she was the most underpaid actor on the Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi set.

"I was the most underpaid actor. I never got a raise. Only once I asked for a raise, and while everyone got a raise of 2 thousand rupees, I got only 1 thousand. That hit my ego, so I didn’t ask for it ever again and hence didn’t get a raise for a straight 7 years," she said.

For Amar Upadhyay and others, the reboot marks a respectable return but still pales next to Smriti’s staggering fee.

Netizens' reaction to Smriti Irani's fees in KSBKB 2

As soon as the reports and leaks surfaced on social media, they caught the attention of fans. One said, "I don't think she'll still receive that much money if the show fails to attract audience attention and ratings. There’s probably a clause in her contract stating that the show must achieve certain ratings... otherwise, her salary will be reduced. The fact is, the show will depend heavily on her, and if it fails, there's no reason to pay her such a huge amount."

"That's how contracts work. If a show creates strong buzz and gets ratings that exceed the producers' expectations, the actors or the face of the show usually get a pay hike. There's a reason why Rupali Ganguly is currently the highest-paid actress—her show consistently tops the charts. Ratings and TRPs mean everything to the channel and the producers. Similarly, if a show fails in ratings, why would anyone pay the actors huge amounts? Smriti has been in the industry for a long time, both as an actor and a producer. She knows how contracts are written and how they benefit both parties. It's pure business, after all," one added.

While one said, "Anupama's actor takes 3 lakhs per episode, IIRC."

FAQs

Q. Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi reboot: When & where to watch?

On July 29, 2025, at 10:30 PM IST. It marks the 25th anniversary of the original series on JioCinema.

Q. Why does this reboot matter?

This time, it's a limited-series run of 150 episodes, blending nostalgia with modern storytelling for both long-time fans and newer audiences.

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