Why Reboot Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi With Smriti Irani After 25 Years? Here’s What Producer Ekta Kapoor Says

It’s a wave of nostalgia crashing into the hearts of a generation that once glued themselves to their TV screens every evening.

Reboots are not new. When a show does well, it often makes a comeback. But when Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi returns after 25 long years, it’s more than just another season.

It’s a wave of nostalgia crashing into the hearts of a generation that once glued themselves to their TV screens every evening, waiting for Tulsi Virani to appear.

While the announcement has stirred excitement among longtime fans, it has also left many wondering why now? What made Ekta Kapoor decide to revive a show that defined Indian television in the early 2000s? And how will this reboot fit into today’s content-savvy world?

Ekta Kapoor answered it all in an emotional note titled “Why Kyunki, Why Now?” promising a reboot that’s bold, inclusive, and built to spark meaningful conversations beyond the saas-bahu cliches.

She acknowledged that even she had initial doubts about reviving the show but was ultimately convinced by its legacy and the opportunity to create impact.

“Why Kyunki, why now? When the 25th year of ‘Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi’ was approaching and the idea of relaunching it surfaced, my first reaction was a firm no. Why would I want to shake up nostalgia? You can never compete with nostalgia. It always remains supreme. How I remember my childhood and how it really was, will always be different. Also, the television space has changed. Once dependent on 9 cities, audiences now consume content in fragments, scattered across platforms. Would this shake the legacy of Kyunki, the iconic TRP no one ever achieved before and after? But was that truly the legacy of the show? Was it just a show with high numbers? Research carried out by an international body once concluded that the show gave a voice to women in Indian homes. Between 2000 and 2005, for the first time, women began participating in family discussions, a shift deeply influenced by Indian television, especially ‘Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi’ and ‘Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki’. Ekta Kapoor wrote on Instagram.

In conversation with peers, the abrupt ending of the show lingered in our minds. It was unfinished. So when Kevin Vaz, his team, the network heads and the Balaji team got into a discussion I thought to myself… Can we keep Kyunki away from today’s storytelling formats and focus once again on the issues that television once bravely addressed and dealt with? Can we make it about impactful stories, not TRPs? Can we reclaim the power to reach millions to actually change mindsets and thoughts? Can we discuss parenting? The balance between concern and control? Can we talk about issues that we shy away from today? Can we use the most beloved and the most integrated platform in India, Television, to tell a story that resonates, and probably educates with equal amounts of entertainment? Can we bring back the time when a family sat on a dinner table and made conversations? The moment I asked this to myself, I got the answer, with a smile on my face. I said, ‘Let’s do this! Let’s create a show that’s not afraid to raise important questions, that sparks conversations, and stands out in a time dominated by visual gimmicks,” she added.

Ekta Kapoor said that the show is coming back with limited episodes, to celebrate 25 years with an intent to impact, entertain, probe thoughts and most importantly, to inspire.

“With a lot of entertainment, excitement and heartfelt emotions. Here’s to Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi — to what it stands for, giving a voice, bringing a much-awaited change, to its history and for what it holds in store for us. Of Course, without sounding preachy but by being relatable and inclusive,” she added.

In the reboot, Smriti Irani is returning as Tulsi.

The reboot will feature several original cast members, including Amar Upadhyay, Apara Mehta, Shakti Anand, and Komolika Guha Thakurta, alongside Irani. It will air in a finite format, beginning July 29 at 10:30 PM on Star Plus.

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