Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2: Nostalgia Reigns, But Can It Innovate?

 Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2, premiered July 29, 2025, is a nostalgic revival that’s both a warm hug and a cautious step into today’s India. Smriti Irani’s return as Tulsi Virani, alongside Amar Upadhyay’s Mihir, anchors this 150-episode reboot with emotional heft. Reviews praise its graceful nod to the original’s legacy while critiquing its heavy reliance on nostalgia over fresh storytelling.

The pilot, “A New Chapter for Tulsi,” opens with the couple’s 38th anniversary, blending classic K-serial tropes—temple montages, slow-motion zooms, and the iconic title track—with modern visuals. Fans on social media gush over Irani’s seamless Tulsi, calling her the “oxygen” of the show, while Upadhyay’s Mihir feels timelessly steady. The returning cast, including Gauri Pradhan and Hiten Tejwani, delivers organic chemistry, rekindling the Virani family’s charm. New faces like Shagun Sharma and Rohit Suchanti as Tulsi’s kids hint at intergenerational drama, appealing to younger viewers with modern dilemmas like identity and tradition.

Critics, however, note the show “bathes in nostalgia” without bold innovation. India Today calls it a “love letter to the past,” recycling familiar plots like Gayatri Chachi’s scheming, which risks feeling dated. NDTV points out Tulsi’s kitchen-bound role feels regressive despite promo teases of her using a laptop. Rediff lauds Irani’s depth but questions if the saas-bahu genre still resonates.

Fans are split: some thrill at the emotional callbacks, others lament clichéd storytelling. With daily 10:30 PM airings on Star Plus and JioHotstar, Kyunki 2 walks a tightrope—delivering comfort for loyalists while striving for relevance. It’s a promising start, but its success hinges on evolving beyond memory lane.