Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin (GHKKPM), a prominent Hindi television drama that premiered on October 5, 2020, on Star Plus, experienced a remarkable trajectory from its meteoric rise to a sharp decline, culminating in its cancellation in July 2025. Initially a standout success, the show, produced by Cockrow Entertainment and Shaika Films, captivated audiences with its emotional storytelling and dynamic lead pair, Neil Bhatt and Ayesha Singh, only to face challenges with subsequent cast changes and narrative shifts that led to its eventual downfall.
The show debuted with a gripping love triangle featuring Sai Joshi (Ayesha Singh), Virat Chavan (Neil Bhatt), and Patralekha (Aishwarya Sharma). Adapted loosely from the Bengali series Kusum Dola, it followed Sai, an aspiring doctor, and Virat, an IPS officer, in a marriage of convenience that blossomed into love amid family conflicts. The "SaiRat" pairing became a fan favorite, driving the show to consistent top-five TRP rankings in its first two years. Ayesha Singh’s authentic portrayal of Sai, coupled with Neil Bhatt’s nuanced performance, resonated deeply, earning critical acclaim despite occasional critiques of repetitive arguments or Virat’s occasionally "toxic" traits. Strategic promotions, including Rekha’s cameo in early promos and crossovers with characters like Deepika Singh’s Sandhya Rathi, amplified its appeal, cementing GHKKPM as a Star Plus flagship.
In June 2023, the show took a significant turn with a generation leap. This marked a pivotal moment as Neil Bhatt and Ayesha Singh bid adieu, and Bhavika Sharma stepped into the role of Savi, Sai’s daughter, alongside Shakti Arora as Ishaan. The new 'IshVi' pair showed potential, with Bhavika’s spirited performance earning praise. However, the leap sparked mixed reactions, particularly from loyal SaiRat fans who found it challenging to embrace the new cast. The show managed to retain decent TRP rankings, but it struggled to maintain its earlier emotional grip. Ayesha Singh urged fans to give the new storyline a chance, but social media, particularly X, reflected discontent with the shift, citing weaker writing and a lack of chemistry compared to the original leads. The impact of these changes on the show's narrative and audience sentiment was profound, to say the least.
By 2024, the show’s trajectory worsened with further leaps and and cast changes. In January 2025, Shakti Arora was replaced by Hitesh Bharadwaj as Rajat, and later, Param Singh and Vaibhavi Hankare joined the cast. Bhavika Sharma briefly exited but returned in May 2025, resuming her role as Savi. The new narrative, involving dramatic arcs like murder mysteries and a Switzerland-based investigation, failed to resonate. The Savi-Neil pairing (with Param Singh) lacked the spark of past couples, and frequent leaps disrupted narrative continuity, alienating viewers. X posts criticized the mishandling of popular characters like Ishaan and repetitive drama that felt like a "debate contest." Despite efforts to revive interest with time slot changes and new entries, TRPs plummeted.
Ultimately, GHKKPM was pulled off-air in July 2025 after nearly five years. Bhavika Sharma’s emotional farewell as Savi highlighted her impact, but fans and actors, including Ankit Arora, expressed disappointment over the show’s abrupt end. The decline stemmed from frequent cast changes, inconsistent writing, and failure to adapt to evolving viewer preferences amid stiff competition from shows like Anupamaa. GHKKPM’s legacy remains bittersweet: a trailblazer in its early years, it struggled to sustain its magic, underscoring the challenges of maintaining long-running TV dramas.
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