On October 23, 2025, viewers of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 watched in shock as Tulsi Virani, played by Smriti Irani, missed her international flight to New York after her passport vanished — not by accident, but by design. The theft, orchestrated by Pari Sharma (Shagun Sharma) under the direction of her scheming mother Noina, was the latest twist in a months-long power play to tear Tulsi away from her husband, Mihir Virani (Rohit Suchanti). The incident unfolded at the Virani family home in Mumbai, just hours before their scheduled Air India departure to John F. Kennedy International Airport.
How the Passport Vanished
The episode opened with the Virani household in a frenzy. Mihir had instructed Hemant to collect all passports for the family’s joint trip to the U.S., where Tulsi was set to attend a global maternal health summit and meet Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. But when Tulsi reached for her passport, it was gone. Panic set in. She swore she’d left it in her dresser drawer. Mihir, already running late, insisted they leave without her — but Tulsi refused to let him go alone. "I’m not letting you fly with her," she whispered, referring to Noina, who had been subtly inserting herself into every family decision. Flashbacks revealed the theft. Pari, posing as the dutiful daughter-in-law, had stolen Tulsi’s clothes from Munni, the housekeeper, and used them as cover to slip into Tulsi’s room. There, she quietly removed the passport from its leather case and stashed it in her own bedroom. It wasn’t random. It was cold, calculated. Noina had whispered the plan the night before: "If Tulsi can’t go, Mihir will have no choice but to stay with me. And once he’s in New York… things will change."Shobha’s Accusation and the Flower Vase
Back home, suspicion fell fast. Shobha Virani, Tulsi’s sharp-eyed mother-in-law, noticed Pari’s unusually calm demeanor. "You’re too quiet," Shobha said, cornering her in the hallway. A search of Pari’s room followed. Shobha tore through drawers, lifted cushions, even checked the bathroom. Pari smiled, arms crossed. "Search all you want, Dadi. But you’ll find nothing. I wouldn’t be so cruel." Then, as Shobha turned to leave, Pari casually adjusted a decorative ceramic vase on her dresser — the very one where she’d slipped the passport moments before. The vase, hand-painted with lotus flowers, had been a gift from Noina. No one thought to look inside. And so, the passport remained hidden — just long enough for Mihir to board the flight.The Aftermath: A Kiss in New York
Meanwhile, in New York, Noina had her plan rolling. According to reports from The Times of India and India Forums, the next episode showed Noina spiking Mihir’s wine at a boutique opening in Manhattan. With Tulsi’s absence weighing on him, Mihir drank more than he should. When Noina leaned in, whispering, "I’ve missed you," he kissed her — mistaking her for Tulsi. The moment was caught on a hidden camera by a rival family member, setting up a bombshell for the following week. "It’s not just about keeping them apart," said a source close to the production team. "It’s about making Mihir feel guilty. If he kisses Noina while thinking she’s Tulsi… he’ll carry that forever. And Tulsi? She’ll never forgive him for it."The Gates Connection: A Bigger Story
But this isn’t just about drama. The show’s producers, Balaji Telefilms, partnered with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to weave a real-world cause into the storyline. Tulsi’s trip to the U.S. wasn’t just a vacation — it was to participate in a virtual roundtable with Bill Gates on maternal health in rural India. Smriti Irani, who plays Tulsi, filmed a real video call with Gates’ team in September 2025, which will air across three episodes. The segment includes actual data: over 50,000 Indian mothers die annually from preventable childbirth complications. Tulsi’s character is meant to spotlight grassroots health workers like ASHA nurses — a nod to real-life change-makers. "We didn’t want to just use Bill Gates as a prop," said Ekta Kapoor, the show’s producer. "This is about awareness. If one viewer watches Tulsi talk to Gates and then googles maternal health programs, we’ve won."What Comes Next? The Passport’s Fate
Despite Noina’s success in the short term, the tide may be turning. According to promotional teasers from Just Showbiz and Telly Reviews, Shobha will eventually find the passport — not by accident, but because Pari, overwhelmed by guilt, left a trail. A dropped hairpin near the vase. A smudge of lipstick on the edge. Shobha, ever the detective, pieced it together. By October 26, the passport will be returned — but the damage may be irreversible. Mihir’s kiss, the betrayal, the emotional fracture… those can’t be undone with a document. And then there’s the question: Will Tulsi ever trust Mihir again? Or will she choose to stay in India, building her maternal health foundation without him?Why This Matters
This isn’t just another soap opera twist. Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 has always blurred the line between entertainment and social messaging. The passport theft mirrors real-life barriers women face — control over documents, restricted mobility, emotional manipulation. And by tying it to a global health initiative, the show turns fiction into advocacy. In a country where 30% of women still need male permission to travel abroad, Tulsi’s stolen passport isn’t just a plot device. It’s a metaphor.Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Tulsi’s passport stolen instead of just denying her travel permission?
Because in the Virani family, legal documents hold power. Noina knew that if Tulsi had her passport, she could legally travel independently — even without Mihir’s consent. By hiding it, Noina created a situation where Tulsi couldn’t prove her own identity or claim her rights. It’s a subtle form of control, mirroring real-world cases where women’s passports are confiscated to prevent them from leaving abusive households.
How does the Bill Gates storyline connect to real-world issues?
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has invested over $1.2 billion in maternal health programs in India since 2000. Tulsi’s virtual meeting with Gates highlights the work of ASHA workers — community health volunteers who’ve reduced maternal mortality by 40% in some states. The show’s producers worked directly with the Foundation to ensure accuracy, including using real statistics and program names. This isn’t fiction; it’s education wrapped in drama.
Will Mihir and Tulsi’s marriage survive the kiss?
Probably not — not without major reckoning. Mihir’s actions, while unintentional, represent a profound breach of trust. Even if he doesn’t remember the kiss clearly, the video evidence will surface. And Tulsi, who has spent years rebuilding her dignity after past betrayals, won’t accept an apology based on intoxication. The show’s writers have hinted this could lead to a separation arc, possibly culminating in Tulsi launching her health initiative independently.
Is Pari Sharma truly evil, or is she being manipulated?
Pari is a product of her environment. Raised by Noina to believe she must fight for her place in the family, she sees Tulsi as a threat — not just to her mother, but to her own future. Yet her hesitation during the search, the way she flinched when Shobha confronted her, suggests guilt. This isn’t pure villainy; it’s learned behavior. The show may give her redemption later — if she chooses to break free from Noina’s control.
Why did the show choose to film a real video call with Bill Gates?
Because television has influence. When a prime-time drama features a real humanitarian like Bill Gates, viewers don’t just watch — they engage. The Foundation reported a 200% spike in website traffic after the first teaser aired. This isn’t product placement; it’s public service storytelling. Smriti Irani, a known advocate for women’s rights, helped shape the script to ensure the message was authentic — not just dramatic.
What’s the significance of the flower vase?
The vase isn’t just a hiding spot — it’s symbolic. In Indian households, decorative vases often hold sacred items: flowers for prayers, tokens of luck. By hiding the passport inside, Pari twisted something meant for blessing into a tool of betrayal. When Shobha later finds it, the act of pulling the passport from the vase becomes a ritual of restoration — reclaiming truth from deception.