The reviving era is here. Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi is ready to return after it first took its throne in Indian television 25 years ago. Ekta Kapoor’s iconic daily soap will premiere again on StarPlus and JioCinema on July 29. The show, starring Smriti Irani as Tulsi Virani, was one of Indian television’s biggest successes. It ran from 2000 to 2008, delivering 1,833 episodes, and left a lasting impact on Indian households. Co-produced by Ekta and Shobha Kapoor under Balaji Telefilms, the serial redefined family dramas for an entire generation.
Back in its time, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi faced criticism for promoting regressive ideas. Even then, debates around its portrayal of family values surfaced regularly. This week, Ekta Kapoor shared why she chose to revive the serial after all these years. In a heartfelt note posted in both English and Hindi on her social media, Ekta titled it ‘Why Kyunki, Why Now?’ She admitted that when the idea of relaunching came up ahead of its 25th anniversary, she wasn’t convinced. Her first thought was to refuse.
Ekta confessed she was hesitant to touch something so nostalgic. She believed it was risky to challenge the memories people held. Television had changed. Viewers no longer sat together in front of one screen. Content consumption had spread across platforms and screens. She wondered if reviving Kyunki might damage its image as the show with record-breaking TRPs. But over time, her thoughts evolved.
She recalled a research study done by an international body years ago. According to that report, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi helped women in India find their voice inside their homes. Between 2000 and 2005, Indian women, for the first time, started participating in family discussions. Television serials like Kyunki and Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki played a big part in driving that change.
Ekta reflected that the real strength of Kyunki was never just its ratings. The show dared to start conversations about difficult topics. It brought subjects like domestic abuse, marital rape, age discrimination, and euthanasia to Indian dining tables. She remembered how the serial became a cultural ambassador, representing India’s storytelling tradition across the globe.
Talking about the show’s sudden ending in 2008, Ekta mentioned how it always felt incomplete to her and her peers. When Kevin Vaz, CEO of Jio Star, and his team along with Balaji’s creative heads began discussions, Ekta asked herself an important question. Could the show stay away from today’s flashy formats and focus once again on important social topics? She thought about whether they could move beyond chasing TRPs and instead tell meaningful stories that would touch lives.
Ekta asked herself if television could once again spark the kind of conversations it once did. Could it bring families back to the dinner table, not just to watch, but to talk? The moment she posed that question to herself, she knew the answer. Smiling to herself, she decided to go ahead. “I said, ‘Let’s do this!’” she wrote.
The revived Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi will arrive as a limited-episode series, celebrating its 25-year milestone. Ekta promised that while it would entertain, it would also provoke thought, inspire, and reflect real emotions. She made it clear that the show wouldn’t try to outdo the nostalgia of the original. Instead, it would aim for meaningful impact. “We will never win against nostalgia. The fight though, is not about winning. It is about Impact!” she wrote.
Ekta also noted that this time, the show would address issues like parenting, the fine line between care and control, and other subjects often left untouched today. It would aim to feel inclusive, emotional, and relatable without sounding too preachy. She ended her note with a toast to storytelling, to the lessons of the past, and to the hope of what lies ahead.
Smriti Irani’s return as the face of the show is not just symbolic, it’s profoundly significant. She isn’t only the OG Tulsi Virani, a character that became a household name, but today, she also holds the crucial position of Minister for Women and Child Development. Watching her navigate this dual identity as a policymaker shaping the future of women in India, and as an actress in a show designed to spark conversations around societal change adds a compelling layer to Ektaa Kapoor’s vision for the revival. It’s more than nostalgia; it’s a statement.
