Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2: TRP Performance, Cast, Story and Why the Revival Worked
Indian television has witnessed several memorable family dramas, but few have achieved the cultural impact of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. When the iconic serial returned with its second season in July 2025, expectations were high. Viewers wanted to see Smriti Irani return as Tulsi Virani, while broadcasters hoped to recreate the success of a show that had defined an era of Hindi television.
The revival attracted considerable attention, delivered an impressive launch and competed with established television favourites. However, its journey also demonstrated how difficult it can be to sustain audience interest in a competitive entertainment landscape.
The second season eventually concluded on October 20, 2026, after completing 450 episodes. Its performance offers an interesting case study in nostalgia, television ratings and the continuing popularity of Indian family dramas.
1. When Did Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 Premiere?
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 premiered on July 29, 2025, on Star Plus, with streaming availability on JioHotstar. The series was produced by Ektaa Kapoor and Shobha Kapoor under Balaji Telefilms.
The original programme had premiered in 2000 and became one of the defining Hindi television dramas of its time. Its return brought back the Virani family and the emotional relationships that had made the original series popular.
The revival was not simply another family drama carrying a familiar title. It was an attempt to reconnect with viewers who had followed Tulsi and Mihir years earlier while introducing their family story to a newer generation.
According to figures released by the broadcaster, the revival recorded more than 1.659 billion minutes of viewing time across television and streaming during its launch week. Star Plus also reported 31.1 million television viewers during its first four days, including 15.4 million for the premiere episode alone.
These figures indicated that the programme had generated substantial interest at launch. They were broadcaster-reported figures, rather than an independently audited measure of its entire lifetime audience.
2. Smriti Irani and Amar Upadhyay’s Return
One of the biggest attractions was Smriti Irani’s return as Tulsi Virani. Her portrayal in the original series had made Tulsi one of Indian television’s most recognisable fictional characters.
Irani’s return was particularly significant because she had spent years away from regular television acting while pursuing a political career. Her appearance generated curiosity among long-time viewers who wanted to revisit a character associated with family values, difficult choices and personal sacrifice.
Amar Upadhyay’s association with Mihir Virani was equally important. Tulsi and Mihir’s relationship had been central to the original programme’s emotional appeal.
The revived series also featured familiar supporting performers alongside a younger cast. Hiten Tejwani and other returning actors helped reconnect the new storyline with the established Virani family universe.
The combination of familiar faces and new developments gave the production an advantage that a completely new television serial would not necessarily enjoy.
3. How Did the Show Perform in TRP Ratings?
The show’s launch performance was impressive. According to launch-week figures reported in August 2025, it attracted substantial television and streaming audiences and recorded a reported television rating of 2.3, tying with Anupamaa in the cited weekly ratings.
Its strong opening demonstrated the continuing value of established television brands. The revival had succeeded in attracting attention in a market where new serials regularly compete for viewers.
The programme continued to feature prominently in weekly ratings reports during 2026. In March 2026, for example, Moneycontrol reported that the show topped the Week 8 ratings chart with a rating of 2.0 and a reported reach of 2.8 million.
However, ratings changed over time. A June 2026 report placed the series fifth, with a rating of 1.5 and a reported reach of 2.3 million.
These figures illustrate an important distinction: a successful launch does not guarantee permanent dominance. Television ratings fluctuate with storylines, cast appearances, competition and changing audience preferences.
It is also important not to compare individual weekly ratings without checking their reporting periods and measurement definitions. A single TRP figure cannot, by itself, establish the complete financial success or failure of a television production.
4. Why Did the Revival Attract Viewers?
Several factors contributed to the show’s appeal.
Nostalgia was the biggest advantage. Viewers who remembered the original series had an emotional connection with Tulsi, Mihir and the Virani family. Their return created immediate interest without requiring the programme to build an entirely new identity.
The family-drama format remained familiar. Relationships, misunderstandings, loyalty, marriage, betrayal and generational differences continued to provide material for the storyline. These themes have long been central to Indian daily soaps.
The cast generated curiosity. Smriti Irani’s return was a major talking point, while Amar Upadhyay’s association with Mihir helped reinforce the connection to the original series.
Television and streaming expanded access. Availability across Star Plus and JioHotstar allowed the programme to reach audiences through more than one viewing platform. This was particularly relevant for viewers whose television habits had changed since the original series aired.
Together, these factors helped the show establish itself as a prominent television revival rather than merely a nostalgic experiment.
5. What Was the Story About?
At the centre of the serial was the Virani family and the relationships that connected its members across generations. Tulsi remained an important emotional figure whose decisions affected both her immediate family and the wider household.
The story continued to use the familiar ingredients of Hindi television drama, including family conflicts, secrets, complicated relationships and confrontations between rivals.
As the series approached its conclusion, the storyline focused on Karan and Nandini’s troubled relationship. Karan decided to divorce Nandini after learning about her responsibility for Parth’s murder. Meanwhile, Tulsi faced difficult questions about the consequences of Nandini’s actions.
The finale brought the conflict involving Mandira and Tripti to a conclusion. Tulsi and Mihir uncovered Mandira’s deception and her plan to take control of Shantiniketan, the Virani family home. The closing episode showed the family coming together, followed by Diwali celebrations.
The conclusion gave the programme an opportunity to bring its central family story to a close rather than leaving viewers with an unresolved ending.
6. Why Did the Show Eventually End?
Although the programme had enjoyed a strong beginning and several successful weeks, its ratings were not consistently at their initial levels. By June 2026, it had fallen to fifth place in the weekly ratings report cited earlier.
Nevertheless, declining ratings alone do not prove that they caused the show’s closure. In October 2026, producer Ektaa Kapoor said the production had originally been planned for 167 episodes but ultimately completed 450.
The series aired its final episode on October 20, 2026. Kapoor and Irani subsequently shared emotional farewell messages, acknowledging the significance of the programme in their professional journeys.
The reported episode count and the show’s conclusion are confirmed by entertainment news coverage. However, there is insufficient public evidence to conclude that the programme ended exclusively because of poor ratings or that it was financially unsuccessful.
7. Final Verdict: Was Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 a Hit?
Overall, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 can reasonably be described as a successful television revival. Its enormous launch, strong early ratings, returning cast and 450-episode run demonstrate that the original brand continued to attract viewers more than two decades after its debut.
Its performance also reveals the limitations of nostalgia. The initial excitement surrounding familiar characters can bring audiences back, but sustaining their interest requires continuing story development and consistent engagement.
For Indian television, the revival demonstrated that established serials can still generate significant interest when they reconnect with audiences emotionally and make their content accessible across television and streaming platforms.
Ultimately, Tulsi and Mihir’s return gave long-time fans another chapter in the Virani family’s story. While the second season did not maintain the same ratings position throughout its run, its strong opening and extended broadcast made it a notable television comeback.
Sources for factual verification: Star Plus/JioStar’s August 2025 launch announcement; NDTV‘s coverage of the launch ratings; Moneycontrol‘s weekly TRP reports from March and June 2026; and Moneycontrol‘s October 21, 2026, report on the finale and Ektaa Kapoor’s farewell message.
You May Also Like :
Comments are closed.