Kyon Ki spin-off, not to feature Smriti Irani and have a shorter run length?

 

Star Plus, wanting to push the envelope of its # 1 show Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi further, has decided on a 15-minute spin-off titled  "Kyunki Rishton Ke Bhi Roop Badalte Hain," starring Rohit Suchanti and Tanya Mehta

The story will revolve around Angad and Vrinda and will have new cast additions.

Interestingly, the spin-off series will not have the usual 25-minute run length, but only half that; maybe the creators were not sure the numbers would justify the cost of a typical TV episode.

Sources tell us the channel and ph are testing the waters with this format, and if it doesn't work, they will pull the plug.

Although the late-night slot might be a dampener, the fact that it follows Kyon KIat 10.30 gives it a fighting chance, and it also reopens the late-night pm slot, which has given huge hits in the past( Nazar and Kaahin Kissii Roz )

Also, if it works, we might have shorter capsule series. Already, long-format storytelling is on the wane due to shorter attention spans. The new vertical format seems a big draw among cash-rich Gen Zee.

   Smriti Irani will not be a part of the spin-off; here, the challenge will be for the makers to promote the spin-offs sans Smriti, as her insta post suggests

There is no clarity on whether other senior artists, like Amar Upadhayay and Hiten Tejwani, will also be part of Kyunki Rishton Ke Bhi Roop Badalte Hain.

We reached out to Rohit, Tanisha, and the channel for a comment, but could not get through by the time we put this piece to bed.

Let us know in the comments whether you would want to watch Kyonk Ki spin-off sans Smriti, and your take on the shorter run length.

Everybody should get a second chance in life - Iqbal Khan.

 Talented and versatile TV and web actor Iqbal Khan is adding yet another feather to his cap. He is now headlining a Sony SAB TV medical drama titled  Hui Gumm Yaadein.  Ek Doctor, Do Zindagiyaan

Iqbal's character, Dr Dev Mehta, loses eight years of his memory.

" I have never touched this genre before, so I'm really excited about it.

 And, the story about getting second chances in life is very close to my heart. Everybody should get a second chance in life."

 "In fact, life is about a second chance.  The first part is to figure out what's happening. The actual living i is the second part."

Here, Iqbal says his show, while focusing on the medical part, "( we did training to avoid major bloopers), we will not go granular as say, The Good  Doctor." says he

The basis is human emotions, as seen even in the original Italian series, DOC – Nelle tue mani

Iqbal is joined by Gulki Joshi and Poonam Preet, who play his first wife and sister, respectively . " Dr Mehta's memory loss will create a lot of emotional upheaval with the above women in his life"

  Iqbal, who comes from a family of doctors (both his sisters are medical professionals), says," The white coat is a noble profession; doctors save lives daily. But yes, on the daily grind, we TV actors slog even more than the doctor"

"I might have become a doctor, but I did not want to study those thick books. You need to invest five years to complete the studies, then comes the internship and the house job(residency)," added he

Iqbal is not worried about adding masala to give long legs to a limited seresi " We Indians have loads of such stuff to add melodrama, but our producer and the entire team will not do anything which will take away from the original premise. "

  

Iqbal has no problem with the longish format of desi TV;" we need to be thankful to God for the opportunity and do our best," says he

In closing, Iqbal says the biggest challenge for him during the shoot is the high emotional quotient of my character," who is always caring about others. It gets draining to maintain that level day in and day out, but then that is our job as actors to add life to any charcter."

We wish Iqbal all the best for yet another exciting outing in his long, distinguished career. 

Dr. Aarambhi descending into yet another saas- bahu tearjerker?

 Honest admission,  dil vs dimag debate 

Whenever I watch Dr Aarambhi's show on Color's TV, my blood boils because the makers had a lovely chance to make a classy medical show interspersed with women's empowerment tropes, as in the K-drama Dr Cha.

   But unfortunately, our desi makers have reduced this  Aishwarya Khare-led effort into yet another suffering bahu trope. Aarambhi seems to be the most troubled woman on Mother Earth. 

 The lead in Dr Cha too faced a cheating husband, indifferent kids, and an evil MIL, yet it still felt like a human drama. We do meet bad people.   But the FL fought for herself, not just took crap.

There is no saving grace in Vishwas ( Aditya   Redijj); on the other hand, the Korean hubby had some human elements.

Had the story been more multifaceted, it would have given Aishwarya, many more chances to showcase her varied acting chops rather than just one emotion.

  But here's the rub: Aarambhi has opened well, so it means audiences like it. We're in a business, so profit trumps everything.

 So now the makers will further delay the empowerment, and we can't blame them either. Why kill a milch cow?

 The powers that be are right in their thinking that doubting Thomases, like me, dont have numbers behind us. We may cry to the heavens about "decaying" content, yet we are not numerically enough to make any attempt to go beyond the pale.

   There is a lot of money riding on every show, and it's not a vanity effort to please a niche crowd.

 

  If there were a genuine demand for a change show like Anupamaa, it would not be a hit.

 Sony has attempted to change its med drama. Dhadkan  Zindagi was half different. The underlying theme was still women facing a lopsided system; it was an attempt to push evolution, but it did not work.

  Audiences need to accept small incremental changes. Rome was not built in a day.

We touched base with  Aishwarya about the same, and this is what she had to say

I feel that people tend to forget that it's a long-term concept, not a finite series. Things open slowly, is what I feel, and yes, there's trp pressure every week, so each week needs a high point.

Teja- Surbhi Psycho Saiyaan fracas help drive conversation toward the show - producer Saurabh Tewari

 Ever since the news broke that Tejasswi Prakash refused a joint interview with her new Amazon MX show, Psycho Saiyaan co-star Surbhi Chandna, all hell has broken loose between the fandoms, with both at each other's throats.

  Teja fans wonder why their favourite is having a joint interview with someone who only appears in the final episode. Surbhi fans take it as an affront to their stan cred.

   In this situation, we spoke to the producer Saurabh Tewari about the same and quoted verbatim.

Both are brilliant performers. I loved working with both. Any amount of PR is good for the show. In today's crowded market, where multiple shows launch every week, people are talking about the show for its on-screen drama and off-screen tension.

  We dont want to decode what the producer said, fans are free to interpret as they wish

But suffice to say, any buzz on or off screen does help, and in today's attention-deficit viewer ecosystem, any buzz that fires the fandom ideally should lead to more views

Surbhi, on her part, called the situation unfortunate but refused to comment (smart answer). So far, Teja has kept her counsel.

Will Saurabh's answer end the debate or inflame the matter further?

Psycho Saiyaan, which has just dropped on OTT, is a romantic thriller with a political angle, starring Ravi Kishan, Anud Singh Dhakka, Ashwini Kalsekar,, Tejasswi, and Surbhi.

  Surbhi might play a pivotal role in season 2 if it happens. Saurabh has spoken well about both his casts. 

Talks are on for CID 3- Shivaji Satam

 There might be good news for CID fans: your favourite crime show might return for a third season. According to sources, talks are on between the production house (Banijay Asia), the channel (Sony TV and Netflix), and the concerned actors. 

 When we spoke to veteran actor  Shivaji Satam( ACP Pradyuman), he confirmed that talks are on;" We are ready. Once we get the go-ahead, we will land up on set."

  He rejected the March shoot talk as a rumour;" It might take a couple of months, or even more, as a lot of preparation is needed. "

 "We also need to work out a date with Dayanand Shetty( Inspector  Daya), who has turned producer, so if everything works out, CID 3 might go on the floor with the rains."

 Shivajaji further refused to comment on ratings;"  These technical/financial things are the production house and the channel's remit. As an actor, for me, my barometer is the public; even today, school kids rush up to me for autographs and selfies 

  It is no small feat to remain relevant for over 25 years. Here, I will credit God for having given me a blessing and a team that alway has each other's back.   We are like family."

 In closing, Shivaji missed his dear friend and former producer, BP  Singh, who is currently unwell.

"Everyone remembers him as DCP Chitorole; his facial expression was really funny. I remember telling him, BP, you aren't overdoing it, but he would always say, I am catering to Indians, not Hollywood," and was he right? No wonder our show is a classic hit not only in  India but even overseas, courtesy Netflix."

 CID first started in 1998 and ran uninterrupted till 2018 on Sony TV. It then returned in late 2024 for a second season, running until 14th  December 2025.

From Subtle Heartstrings to Saas-Bahu Spectacle: Unpacking the Indian Adaptation of 'Doctor Cha' in 'Dr. Aarambhi'

 

Indian television has long been synonymous with high-octane drama, where family conflicts erupt like fireworks and characters are painted in bold strokes of good versus evil. The latest entrant, Colors TV's Dr. Aarambhi, starring Aishwarya Khare as the resilient protagonist Aarambhi, draws its inspiration from the acclaimed Korean medical drama Doctor Cha (2023), featuring Uhm Jung-hwa in the lead. While the original series captivated global audiences with its nuanced exploration of midlife reinvention, infidelity, and professional resurgence, the Indian remake has sparked debates about why desi adaptations often amp up the melodrama. Is it a cultural necessity for emotional connect, or does it risk diluting the source material's subtlety? Let's dive into the key differences, creative choices, and potential paths forward for Dr. Aarambhi, based on early episodes and viewer buzz.The Villainous Makeover: Husbands and MILs in Black-and-WhiteIn Doctor Cha, the story revolves around Cha Jeong-suk, a housewife who returns to medicine after 20 years, uncovering her husband's affair and navigating family tensions. The husband, Seo In-ho, is portrayed as flawed—cheating and self-absorbed—but with layers of regret and complexity that make him human rather than monstrous. Similarly, the mother-in-law is overbearing yet not devoid of redeeming qualities, allowing for realistic reconciliation arcs. This gray-shaded approach fosters empathy and focuses on personal growth over outright villainy.Contrast this with Dr. Aarambhi, where Aarambhi's husband Vishwas and his mother are dialed up to eleven on the antagonism scale. Vishwas's betrayal feels more calculated and gaslighting-heavy, while the MIL embodies the classic saas archetype—manipulative and unsympathetic. Viewers have noted this shift, with some on platforms like Reddit questioning if it's a deliberate localization to heighten sympathy for the female lead. Why the exaggeration? Indian daily soaps thrive on emotional highs to sustain long runs and TRPs, where subtle conflicts might not hook audiences as effectively as dramatic confrontations. Yet, this risks oversimplification: real people, even in dysfunctional families, have shades of gray. Dr. Aarambhi could balance this by introducing moments of vulnerability for these characters, turning them from caricatures into catalysts for Aarambhi's empowerment without losing the desi flavor.Age of Innocence: The Choice of a Young Child Over Grown-Up DynamicsOne intriguing deviation is the age of Aarambhi's child. In Doctor Cha, the adult children—particularly the daughter, also a doctor—add depth through hospital-based rivalries and generational clashes, blending medical procedures with family drama. This setup allows for professional conflicts that mirror the protagonist's journey, making the workplace a key arena for growth.Dr. Aarambhi opts for a young son instead, shifting the focus to immediate maternal stakes like protection and custody, which resonate deeply in Indian narratives centered on family bonds. Was this a creative call or influenced by the lead actress? Aishwarya Khare, known for embracing multifaceted roles in shows like Bhagya Lakshmi, has expressed enthusiasm for portraying strong mothers who break cycles and instill values. There's no indication she resisted playing a mom to adults; rather, it seems a strategic choice to extend domestic drama before leaping into career challenges. This could set up future conflicts post-time jump, perhaps introducing a daughter for mother-daughter doctor duels, adding layers beyond traditional tropes.Romance, Resilience, and the Road Ahead: Beyond Saas-Bahu ClichésIndian audiences love a good romance, and Dr. Aarambhi has the opportunity to deliver. In the original, Cha's journey emphasizes independence, often ending on a note of self-fulfillment without mandatory remarriage. But in a soap format, going single might cause the story to lose steam. Introducing Aarambhi's male friend—perhaps a supportive colleague—as a romantic interest could infuse the narrative with the spark we crave, especially if he's younger, sparking intergenerational tensions with her child post-leap.The show's strength lies in its potential to spotlight working women's real struggles: balancing career ambitions with domestic discord, overcoming self-doubt, and facing professional reinvention. Unlike Doctor Cha, where medical elements are secondary but authentic, Indian medical dramas often prioritize emotions over accuracy—think glossy procedures serving plot twists rather than realism. Dr. Aarambhi has opened strongly, earning praise for its resilient lead and themes of self-worth. If the makers hold their conviction, it could evolve beyond saas-bahu melodrama into a tale of broader challenges, like workplace bias or ethical dilemmas in healthcare.Ultimately, adaptations like Dr. Aarambhi reflect cultural tailoring: K-dramas excel in understated emotional depth, while Indian TV amplifies for mass appeal. But with thoughtful balancing—nuanced villains, evolving romances, and authentic professional hurdles—this show could redefine the genre, proving that desi content can be dramatic without being overly melodramatic. As it unfolds, one hopes it champions women rising above, not just reacting to, adversity. What twists await? Only time (and TRPs) will tell.