By Subhash K Jha
IANS
Mumbai : Televison producer Ekta Kapoor is rubbishing rumours of being pressured by the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) to continue Smriti Irani's tenure as Tulsi on "Kyunkii Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thii", saying the party is too big to indulge in such trivial issues.
"This is rubbish. A respected organisation like BJP can't be expected to take interest in something so trivial. Besides, do I look like the type who would buckle under pressure?" asked Ekta.
However, she confirmed that Smriti Irani, who joined BJP in 2003, has quit the long running show.
"Smriti is leaving the show. She needed a break. We're giving her one for some time. The future course of her track in the show is undecided. Whatever she decides, she will always remain a part of Balaji," Ekta told IANS.
However, the confusion regarding the change of guard in Balaji's flagship show "Kyunkii Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thii" continues. The change at the helm is scheduled to happen in just about a fortnight but Ekta has still not decided who would be the new Tulsi.
"It's either Padmini Kolhapure or Gautami Gadgil. We'll make the change in a week. And we still haven't decided. The story is still being worked on," she told IANS.
Talking about Smriti Irani's return to the show, Ekta said, "She would be returning. But when, we cannot say. It could be a month, two months, or six months. She's welcome back anytime. Smriti has always supported 'Kyunkii Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thii'."
Ekta is now focusing on "Shootout At Lokhandwala".
"It is Balaji's first co-production with Sanjay Gupta's White Feather Films. I know it is an unexpected alliance. We at Balaji are accused of churning out predictable soaps. Might as well spring some surprise in movie production," said Ekta.