'TV Actors Sacrifice Personal Lives' Apara Mehta On Smriti Irani's Miscarriage Revelation

Apara Mehta, known for her role as Savita Mansukh Virani in the popular TV series Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, supports her co-star Smriti Irani's recent revelation that she was summoned to shoot on the show's set shortly after experiencing a miscarriage. Mehta suggests that such situations occur because television shows lack a reserve of pre-recorded content and the final episodes must be sent for telecast.

Apara Mehta discloses that Smriti Irani was actively shooting even during the births of her two children, Zohr and Zoish Irani. Mehta mentions that Irani continued to work on the show until the day before Zohr's birth and returned to the set four days later, stating that there's often no alternative in such cases. 

Apara Mehta On Smriti Irani's Revelation About Shooting After Miscarriage

She emphasises that it's not just Irani but all actors on daily soap operas who must set aside their personal lives for work. Mehta also highlights that when any of the actors fell ill or faced personal challenges, the production team would visit their homes, set up a simple backdrop, and continue shooting.

Smriti Irani rose to fame after portraying Tulsi in the television series Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. Before leaving in 2007, she worked in the program for seven years. Years later, the performer described in a recent interview how she was called back to work just a few hours after having a miscarriage.

The actor explained how she had asked the producers to let her leave the shoot since she was not feeling well. Unfortunately, it was already evening when they released her. She stated on The Slow Interview with Neelesh Misra that the doctor had advised her to get a scan. Irani began bleeding, she took an auto to the hospital. As soon as she entered the hospital, a nurse instead of looking into her condition first approached for an autograph. She said, "Admit kar loge, I think I am miscarrying" as she handed her the autograph.

The actor-turned-politician added that she got a call from the show's production late in the day requesting her to come in the next day. She was instructed to report for the 2 pm shift after she told them about her miscarriage.

Smriti Irani's Revelation About Shooting After Miscarriage

She was performing for Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi at the same time that she was portraying Sita in Ravi Chopra's Ramayan. Chopra requested for Smriti to take a day off from work, while Balaji from Kapoor had asked her to get back to work.

She revealed that she had asked Ravi Chopra if she could work the 7 am shift and arrive at 8 am. She will need to return home once she is released from the hospital. She didn't need to come the next day, he said, adding that he understood that she was going through a difficult period. She persisted, though, saying that he couldn't replace Sita and so he must shoot with her onsite for a Sunday episode, which Chopra insisted he would manage.

During the conversation, the actor also recounted how one of her Kyuki co-stars had told the producer that her miscarriage wasn't actually a miscarriage. She further explained how she provided evidence of the same to Kapoor, which left her feeling awkward. She concluded by describing how Kapoor became uncomfortable and told her not to show the papers. To which she replied, "Foetus bacha nahi, warna woh bhi dikha deti (I would've shown you the foetus also if it had been there)."

Suggested Reading: Mrs: Sanya Malhotra Stars In The Great Indian Kitchen's Hindi Remake