Veteran actress Padmini Kolhapure has been zeroed on to play the life line of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. Smriti's tenure in Balaji ends this May. Her leaving the parent production house and Kyunki was drama laden. However Padmini's entry has been kept under wraps, in fact Nevedita Basu, Creative Head Balaji- blatantly hides the fact stating that, "No, I haven't finalized anyone as yet!" when the press is abuzz with news of her entry. Padmini Kolhapure was chosen over Poonam Dhillon and Gautami Gadgil to play the 70 plus Tulsi Virani. Apparently Poonam declared that she was never approached in the first place and the deal with Gautami did not work out. Padmini fits the role to the T as she has screen presence, a voice to stand above the rest of the cast and thankfully she is not as dull eyed as Smriti and being the original Bollywood masala girl can bring variations to her voice unlike the monotone the audience was subjected to for years! The interesting feature of the story will be the replacement game. Sources say that Tulsi will go in search of Lakshya as she feels responsible for disgracing him on his wedding day. Tulsi meets with an accident and is badly scarred and burnt. The Virani's have no choice but to treat her with Plastic Surgery. As she recovers in the hospital, her bandages removed fold by fold…Voila, we have Padmini Kolhapure as Tulsi! As it is often criticized, it's a tried and tested procedure that will garner her much needed TRP's. A Raj Kapoor find, Padmini hails from the family of artists is Dinanath Mangeshkar's niece. Her grandfather Krishnarao Kolhapure, along with Dinanath Mangeshkar and Chintamani Kolhatkar owned the Balwant Naatak Company. Pandi as she is fondly addressed is the second sibling with older sister Shivangi (married to Shakti Kapoor). Tejaswini her younger sister is married to director Pankaj Saraswant of The Great Indian Laughter Challenge fame. She married producer Tutu Sharma and has a son Priyank who is all set to make his mark in Bollywood. Post her stint is movies Padmini returned to her home calling- theatre and can be seen in the comedy of sorts Abhi Toh Main Jawan Hoon sharing stage space with Aushutosh Sinha. We contacted Padmini, her cousin responded stating "She has gone to Poona.' So is aware if Padmini had signed the dotted line for Kyunki Saas Bhi Kahi Bahu Thi? "No I am not aware of any of this," replied the voice. Even with denial in hand close sources say, she was asked to refrain from giving quotes. Take a journalists opinion, the convolutions trademark to the Balaji soaps yet again take the cheery of the cake! With true news, hearsay and denials we have put too many things to test: our sources, our stars and our producers. Write to us your opinion on Padmini to be Tulsi and how apt you think she will fit the bargain at [email protected]. To know more on the Kyunki front stay glued…