In a television moment that left India buzzing, Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates appeared on Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, the iconic Hindi drama that defined an era. Sharing the screen with actor and former Union minister Smriti Irani, Gates discussed maternal and child health—an issue close to his foundation’s work in India’s most disadvantaged regions.
For many, it was surreal: one of the world’s richest man, in a video call, greeting Tulsi Virani, the fictional matriarch who once commanded the daily routines of millions. “Namaste Tulsi-ji. Did I say that right?” he asked in accented Hindi. Irani, beaming, replied, “Absolutely perfect.” The encounter came after a viral video of Tulsi giving health advice at a godh-bharai (baby shower) caught Gates’ attention online.
The Gates Foundation has long partnered with state governments in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to curb infant and maternal mortality. While progress has been made, experts note that in a society steeped in patriarchal norms, persistent social messaging remains critical. And, perhaps unintentionally, Tulsi has become the perfect messenger.
First aired in 2000, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi became a cultural juggernaut. Its tale of love, loyalty, and domestic intrigue had families reorganising their daily lives to keep up with Tulsi’s trials and tribulations. In July, 25 years after it first aired, the show returned, updating its characters while retaining the melodrama that had made it legendary.
Tulsi, now middle-aged and a mother to grown children, continues to navigate the complex dynamics of the Virani family. But the show has evolved: it now incorporates socially relevant issues such as divorce, maternal and child health, and women’s empowerment—mirroring Irani’s real-life portfolio as a former minister for Women and Child Development.
The four-minute Gates cameo was brief but memorable, blending pop culture and global philanthropy in a way that felt entirely natural. Tulsi’s nervous humour, Gates’ earnest greetings, and the viral baby-shower video created a crossover no one saw coming—but one that reminded audiences how storytelling, when paired with purpose, can transcend screens and borders.
