Bill Gates’s cameo in iconic Indian TV drama with Smriti irani

A transition no one saw coming.

That’s how many in India describe Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates’ appearance in an iconic Indian TV series alongside actress and former federal minister Smriti Irani.

Mr. Gates appeared on Thursday night’s episode of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi (Because His Mother-in-Law Was Once His Mother-in-Law) to talk to Iranians about maternal and child health.

The Gates Foundation has been working for years to reduce infant and maternal mortality with governments in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, two northern Indian states with large populations that are also among the most disadvantaged.

State data The two states, including, show significant improvement in maternal and child health indicators over the years. But difficulties remain in a country dominated by patriarchy.

In such a scenario, experts say messaging becomes extremely important to ensure that the drum beat continues to change norms and people become more conscious about the need to take care of their daughters and mothers.

And to do this, Mr. Gates perhaps could not have chosen a better platform than Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi.

First launched in July 2000, the series had a very successful long run with several thousand episodes airing almost daily on Star Plus for eight-and-a-half years before it went off-air, says Shailaja Bajpai, columnist and Readers Editor of new site Print.

In July, 25 years after it first hit the screens, Kyunki… returned for its second inning.

Indian viewers found the series intriguing, based on the complex family relationship between the Iranian character Tulsi and her mother-in-law. The trials and tribulations of the new bride in charge have caused families to rearrange their daily routines to ensure they don’t miss a single episode.

Irani’s character was and still is at the center of this story of the fictional Virani family. In the first season, she played a young woman who falls in love with the child of a wealthy family and marries him.

A quarter of a century later, Tulsi is middle-aged, her children are grown, and she is about to become a mother-in-law.

But Ms. Bajpai says her current struggles are still with jealous and misguided family members, and that the drama and melodrama of the original season is still abundant.

“If you take out the devices, the cell phones, the laptops, in fact, if you take out all the storefronts, it’s still the same story. Just updated.”

But he adds that one thing that is different now is the increase in social messaging. “I think it’s because it fits her profile better. She served as minister of women and child development, so the show now talks about divorce, child and maternal health, and other socially important issues.”

The four-minute segment featuring Mr. Gates begins with the Microsoft founder greeting him in American-accented Hindi — “Namaste Tulsi-ji,” he says — and asks her if she said it right?

“Yes, absolutely perfect,” he smiles.

The call came after Tulsi was seen in a viral video giving health advice to an expectant mother at a godh-bharai (baby shower).

Tulsi’s son, who posted the video, says he tagged Mr. Gates and wondered if he would like to have a video call with Tulsi. “Accepted,” he exclaims with joy.

Tulsi seems a little nervous initially. “What do I tell him? I’m just on a video call with you or your dad about grocery shopping,” she says.

But when the laptop is turned on and Mr. Gates comes into view, Tulsi comes to her senses and explains the reason for the “traditional” ritual.

“We came together to pray for a young expectant mother, we wish her good health,” he says.

“We tell women how important it is to pay attention to their health, nutrition and diet. We tell them to follow the doctors’ instructions and go to the hospital for birth.”

The two agree that “when mothers are healthy, children thrive and the world can make significant progress.”

The show uses storytelling to draw attention to critical issues related to maternal and child health, the show’s producers, JioStar Entertainment, told the BBC.

“We believe storytelling can do more than entertain, it can inform, inspire and raise awareness on important issues,” said Sumanta Bose of JioStar.

“By embedding issues of social importance into our narratives, we aim to create impact that goes beyond the screen and makes a meaningful difference in people’s lives,” he added.

The statement states that Mr. Gates will appear in three episodes of the show.

Ms. Bajpai says that in its second innings, the show had to compete with a slew of other shows on OTT platforms and failed to find the same resonance with the audience.

But Mr. Gates’ unexpected role appears to have brought the issue back into the spotlight, at least for now.

A trailer for the episode garnered more than six million views in less than a day on Instagram alone, with thousands of comments reflecting surprise and amusement.

“What is this multiverse?” read one comment liked by more than 17,000 people. it said. Another said: “So embarrassing but at the same time I love him so much.”