Swati Sharma on Mouni Roy Comparisons: ‘She’s a Great Star’

Actress Swati Sharma, who plays Vaishnavi in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2, has responded to comparisons between her character and Mouni Roy’s popular Krishna Tulsi from the original series.

Following the show’s leap, Vaishnavi has become an important part of Tulsi’s family, prompting viewers to draw parallels between the two characters. However, Swati says she does not feel equipped to judge the similarities because she has not watched the original series.

Speaking about the comparisons, Swati explained that she was aware of reports suggesting that Vaishnavi’s character would have some resemblance to Mouni’s Krishna Tulsi, but she has not personally watched the first season.

“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.”

Why Viewers Compare Vaishnavi With Krishna Tulsi

Mouni Roy played Krishna Tulsi in the original Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, joining the show in 2006. Her character was an adopted girl from a village who became part of the influential Virani family and shared a close bond with Tulsi Virani.

Swati’s Vaishnavi has similarly become a daughter figure to Tulsi in the reboot, which has led some viewers to connect the two characters.

However, Swati has focused on developing Vaishnavi independently rather than trying to recreate a previous performance.

Swati Sharma on Vaishnavi’s Emotional Journey

Looking at her own character arc, Swati believes Vaishnavi has been given a particularly substantial storyline in the reboot.

She highlighted the track involving Parth, Vaishnavi and Reyansh, particularly the storyline involving marital sexual violence and its emotional aftermath. According to the actress, the track gave her an opportunity to explore several layers of Vaishnavi’s personality.

“But 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.”

Swati said the storyline became one of the most significant parts of her experience on Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2. She also credited the emotionally demanding track with helping her grow as an actor.

“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.”

‘I Definitely Don’t Want to Compare Myself With Mouni’

Despite the comparisons from viewers, Swati made it clear that she does not want to measure her career against Mouni Roy’s.

Calling Mouni “a great star,” Swati acknowledged the journey the actress has made from television to films.

“And 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.”

Rather than comparing herself with another performer, Swati said she prefers to focus on her own progress.

“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.”

Swati Sharma’s Television Journey

Before joining Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2, Swati Sharma appeared in shows including Yeh Hai Chahatein, Chahenge Tumhe Itna and Tu Dhadkan Main Dil.

Meanwhile, Mouni Roy made her television debut with Ekta Kapoor’s original Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi in 2006 before going on to build a career across television and films.

Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 premiered on July 29, 2025, as a sequel and reboot of the iconic television series. The show marks the return of Smriti Irani and Amar Upadhyay as Tulsi and Mihir Virani and is created by Ekta Kapoor.