That ‘Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi’ is coming back with a reboot version is yesterday’s news. That Smriti Irani is happy reprising her iconic role as Tulsi Virani is also yesterday’s news. What’s new is the one question: What’s new in the show this time?
Ekta Kapoor, in her long note on social media, asserted that ‘Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi’ reboot will give “voice to women”, “inspire”, and “spark conversation.” She called the new show “inclusive”, and that’s precisely what will make it relevant and interesting for the audience today.
It is important to note that a large part of the audience has moved away from television, especially the millennials, who were a prime target audience for the original ‘Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi’ in the early 2000s. They are now hooked to platforms like Netflix, Prime Video and JioHotstar, eager to discover new titles that reflect global aspirations and tell universally relevant stories.
Selling ‘Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi’ to them again seems like a tough call – not impossible, but certainly challenging. So, what does ‘Kyunki’ need to get right this time? What can it show to attract an audience that has increasingly moved to iPads and phones from television sets? And more importantly, how can the show magnify some of the progressive themes it barely scratched the surface in its original run?
‘Kyunki’ ruled Indian television for eight long years for a reason. Apart from its glamour, the ever-expanding world of television back then also drew audiences in. Where else could one find everyday entertainment and escape if not the idiot box? Theatres were there, yes. But not everyday viewing. TV was better, accessible, affordable, and gave people control. It also encouraged group viewing.
‘Kyunki’, as its creators often say, brought families together. It aired at 10:30 pm, when most Indian families were either having dinner or had just finished eating. It provided them with an opportunity to wind down the day – with drama and emotions.
The basic appeal of the show – providing a community viewing experience – needs to be retained. The idea is to bring back nostalgia. And while people may have moved on and shifted to other mediums of entertainment, it is essential for the ‘Kyunki’ reboot to at least attempt to offer content that resonates across age groups.
Where the show really needs to evolve is in showcasing a shift in India’s cultural conversation. The reboot must introduce layered narratives – plural, not singular – that assist the progressive mindsets of the audience, and not take them 25 years back to when the show first aired.
Millennials have grown up, and are still figuring out adulting. ‘Kyunki’ has to mirror their dilemmas. An entire generation today grapples with the ideas of marriage and situationships, and the show needs to address these realities to stay relevant.
Imagine your parents watching a show that helps them understand homosexuality, explains why not getting married is normal, or shows that considering adoption is not a taboo. A show where coming out of an abusive marriage is not seen as a sign of weakness, where staying alone doesn’t mean loneliness, and being a single mother is a conscious, valid choice.
Now imagine them understanding all of that because their favourite bahu, Tulsi – with her folded hands, a bright silk saree draped over her right shoulder, and that graceful smile, is at the centre of those conversations. You see, they’ll get it if Tulsi says it.
There’s power in being Tulsi. She led the most-loved daily soap in the history of Indian television – with grace, tradition, and cultural values deeply rooted in everyday household dynamics. If she’s doing it, it has to be right. But maybe, that too needs to change.
The icon – the low-key goddess stature that Tulsi holds – needs to be shifted to a more human portrayal: vulnerable, and therefore, relatable. Vulnerability, especially in women, must be embraced. Their flaws, and not their flawlessness, need to be highlighted and accepted. And that can only happen if Tulsi herself lives those truths.
Yes, the original show touched on issues like euthanasia, marital rape and infidelity. But those can no longer remain mere dialogues – they need to become full-blown conversations. The women in the new ‘Kyunki’ need to see their existence and their ambitions beyond the glossy and golden walls of the Virani mansion.
Honestly, even men need to be more. More layered, more invested in the issues that shape their lives, and more engaged in conversations that drive change. Mihir doesn’t need to be someone entirely defined by Tulsi or dependent on her. He needs to be an active partner – thinking with her, sharing responsibilities, owning the decisions, and being a support, not a burden.
Someone there needs to begin or add to the narrative of inclusivity. Issues like LGBTQ+ rights, caste dynamics, and mental health must be at the forefront. Women’s financial independence, marital consent, divorce, remarriage, generational trauma, and patriarchy shouldn’t just be plot points – not part of the game – but the game itself.
Female empowerment was often diluted by “sacrifice” tropes in ‘Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi’, and that wouldn’t work anymore.
We are not saying the show should become preachy or only serve as a moral guidebook. We are saying let the show become much more than what it used to be.
The truth is, reboots walk a thin line between memory and meaning. The challenge for Ekta Kapoor and her team is not just to resurrect a beloved show, but to reimagine it for a generation that demands more from its stories than just drama, melodrama and grand sets. If the new ‘Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi’ can combine the comfort of nostalgia with the courage to reflect today’s truths, it won’t just be another reboot. It could become a cultural reset.
In 2025, it’s not enough for Tulsi to just uphold traditions. She must also question them, challenge them, and occasionally, even break them – so her daughters, sons, and every Tulsi who follows her, can finally live freer, fuller lives.
– Ends