📺 Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi Returns: The Legend Reborn or a Nostalgic Mirage?

Written by Guruji Sunil Chaudhary
Digital Success Coach | Cultural Commentator | Proud Sanatani

🌟 Introduction: The Return of a Daily Soap Dynasty

There are shows… and then there is Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi — the show that redefined Indian television. First aired in 2000, it wasn’t just entertainment. It was a daily family ritual, an emotional roller coaster, and for millions, a mirror of Indian values, sanskars, and social drama.

Now in 2025, after 25 years, Smriti Irani returns as Tulsi, alongside Amar Upadhyay as Mihir, in the much-hyped Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi Season 2.

But is this reboot a soulful revival or just nostalgia marketing? Let’s analyze this historic comeback from all angles.

🧭 Chapter 1: Flashback – What Made Kyunki a Cultural Giant?

Before OTT and before Insta Reels, India had Star Plus at 10:30 PM.

With Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi:

• TRP ratings broke records for years

• Tulsi became a household name across Bharat

• Dialogues like “Tulsi Virani kuch bhi kar sakti hai” became legendary

• It made Ekta Kapoor a media empire queen

• It gave India its first family superhero — a saas who actually fought for her bahus!

This was not just a show. It was India’s longest-running primetime emotional investment.

🎬 Chapter 2: The Comeback Cast – Familiar Faces, New Stakes

• Smriti Irani reprises her role as Tulsi, now a wiser matriarch in a modern world

• Amar Upadhyay returns as Mihir, still charming but caught in complex family webs

• New characters: Angad, Paridhi, Neha, Yug — representing Gen-Z values, confusion, and rebellion

• Plot twist: Tulsi’s children themselves are now parents with their own messy legacies

“The show feels like opening an old diary — you know what’s coming, but it still hits.” — Fan reaction on X

📈 Chapter 3: Box Office & Ratings – Is Nostalgia a Bankable Strategy?

Even in the digital-first, OTT-dominated world, Kyunki 2 opened with:

• 🌟 #1 Rating on JioStar’s TV ratings for Week 1

• 📈 Massive TRP spike in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities

• 📺 Top trends in India and UK (BizAsiaLive confirms top TV slot in UK Hindi households)

• 📲 Viral clips with 10M+ views across Instagram and YouTube within 48 hours

Lesson: Emotionally powerful brands never truly die. They hibernate and awaken when India is ready again.

🧠 Chapter 4: Narrative Analysis – Old Story, New Lens?

Yes, Kyunki 2 begins with:

• Property disputes 🏠

• Daughter-in-law suspicions 🤷‍♀️

• Sons being manipulated 🤦‍♂️

• Tulsi’s iconic monologues 👑

But here’s the modern touch:

• Social media conflicts

• Career-vs-family debates

• Gender dynamics and financial independence

• Cancel culture and sanskar culture clashing!

“Tulsi now fights for both sanskar and smartphones.” – NDTV review

Yet, critics argue the core script is still deeply patriarchal, only now with a 2025 wallpaper.

India Today says:

“Kyunki Tulsi can’t catch a break – New episode, same old misogyny.”

❤️ Chapter 5: Emotional Impact – Gen-Z Meets Gen-X

Two audiences are reacting differently:

👵 Gen-X & Millennials:

• Teary-eyed

• Sharing old memories

• Watching with their parents

• Saying: “It feels like maa ke haath ka khaana.”

👶 Gen-Z Viewers:

• Confused but hooked

• Some critique the melodrama

• Others binge just to understand “what kept our parents obsessed every night at 10 PM!”

“I finally get why Tulsi was a vibe. She’s the OG fierce maa.” – GenZ reaction on Reddit

🔍 Chapter 6: Reviews – Applause, Criticism & Cultural Reflections

🛒 Chapter 7: Business Side – Ads, Brands & OTT Play

• JioStar secured 8 brand partnerships for the revival

• From Masalas to Mobile Apps, the show is now a hybrid traditional-modern advertising hub

• OTT streaming rights secured by JioCinema, with weekly episode drops and bonus interviews

“Kyunki is no longer just TV. It’s now a multi-platform emotion economy.”

🧭 Chapter 8: Smriti Irani – The Comeback Queen

From Tulsi to Cabinet Minister and back to Tulsi again…

Smriti Irani’s comeback is powerful, symbolic, and strategic:

• She’s now a woman of governance portraying a woman of family wisdom

• Every dialogue carries weight, both political and emotional

• Her real-life transformation adds gravitas to every scene

“Smriti is my Tulsi Maa in fiction, and my minister in reality.” – Actor Hiten Tejwani

📚 Chapter 9: Cultural Commentary – Is It Regressive or Reflective?

Let’s be honest:

Yes, the show still has:

• Women crying in corners

• Dramatic background scores

• Sanskari one-liners

But also:

• Modern conflicts

• Assertive daughters-in-law

• Generational healing arcs

• Open discussion on emotional labor

Maybe Kyunki 2 isn’t perfect, but it’s not trying to be modern for the sake of trend.
It’s trying to tell the same story with today’s eyes.

And maybe… that’s what Bharat needs.

🎯 Final Verdict: Should You Watch Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2?

Guruji’s Tip: Watch it with your mom. Or your daughter. Or both. You’ll end up crying, laughing, debating — and maybe even healing a little.