Later on Ekta Kapoor selected her for the role of Tulsi Virani in ‘Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi', a soap opera on Star Plus. Ekta showed confidence in Smriti despite the fact that all other members of her team rejected her.
Ekta Kapoor put her foot down and asserted,” Smriti is my Tulsi.” Tulsi's role proved to be a turning point in Smriti's career and she never looked back. The rest, as we say, is history.
Smriti holds the record of winning five consecutive Indian Television Academy Awards for Best Actress (Popular), four Indian Telly Awards, eight Star Parivaar Awards and other awards all for her performance in Kyunki.