Kyuki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi Returns with Season 2 – Progressive or Outdated?

Back in July 2000, Kyuki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi aired its first episode on Indian television and quickly became a cultural phenomenon. Tulsi Virani, played by Smriti Irani, became more than a character—she became a symbol of the ideal Indian daughter-in-law. So much so that by 2004, when Irani entered politics, people still referred to her as “Tulsi”, not Smriti.

Now, in 2025, the legendary show has returned with Season 2, featuring a mix of familiar faces and a new Gen-Z cast. While social media, hashtags, and selfies now exist in Tulsi’s world, one key question lingers: Has the mindset really changed?

Familiar Packaging, Old Messages?

In the new season, scenes like Tulsi telling her daughter-in-law that “a home only feels like a home when women cook and the aroma fills the house” have sparked criticism. So has the line: “If I don’t do the work, who will? This is how a home runs.”

These moments seem to echo the same gender expectations that critics say the original series glorified—wrapped this time in a more modern setting.

A Divided Legacy

While some credit the show for giving women in Indian households a voice in the early 2000s, others argue it reinforced stereotypes. Scholars point out that the series may have portrayed women’s issues, but only on a surface level—where patriarchy remained unchallenged.

Outside India, too, the show’s impact was strong. In Afghanistan, it aired under the name Tulsi and was so popular that it became known as the time when even thieves would wait—because everyone was glued to the screen.

The Real Question: Is Season 2 Just Nostalgia?

Ekta Kapoor claims the original show helped women find a voice at home. But critics note that long before Tulsi, TV heroines like Rajni, Udaan, and Shanti had already set the tone for powerful female-led storytelling. Compared to them, Kyuki… was more about tradition than transformation.

So while Season 2 may strike gold in ratings once again, its real success will be measured by whether it truly represents the voice of today’s woman—or just repackages the same old expectations in a glossy, 2025 look.