A nostalgic look back at the TV universe by Ekta Kapoor!

Before binge-watching, streaming wars, and content fatigue, there was one name that ruled our screens, Ekta Kapoor. With just a tune, she could command living rooms across the country. Her shows weren’t just watched, they were felt. For every ’90s kid, these stories became part of growing up, their drama, their music, their characters, all woven into our everyday routines.

Ekta didn’t just produce television; she produced a cultural phenomenon. These are the iconic shows from her universe that made our childhoods unforgettable.

*#HumPaanch*
It all began here. A quirky family comedy with five wild daughters, a flustered dad, and a portrait of a dead wife that spoke, Hum Paanch was India’s first taste of Ekta’s ability to blend chaos with charm. It made us laugh without trying too hard, and gave the 90s their first truly iconic TV family.

*#KasautiiZindagiiKay*
The red dupatta, the rain, the star-crossed lovers, Kasautii was pure heartbreak served in slow motion. Ekta’s storytelling turned Anurag and Prerna into household names, and the show’s title track became a national sob cue.

*#KahaaniGharGharKii*
Ekta redefined the idea of the Indian household with this one. Parvati bhabhi wasn’t just a character, she became an ideal. The show was soaked in sanskaar, but never felt boring. It captured the emotional tension of family life in a way that felt personal yet epic.

*#KyunkiSaasBhiKabhiBahuThi*
The OG of Indian soap operas. Kyunki not only dominated ratings, it dominated the dinner conversations as well. With Tulsi at its center, Ekta gave us a matriarch who was both fierce and fragile. And that title track? It still plays in our heads when someone mentions ‘mandir scenes.’

*#KasamhSe*
With Kasamh Se, Ekta took a more emotional, almost poetic route. Bani’s story was rooted in love, betrayal, and quiet strength. The track was haunting, and the drama was heavy, but for young viewers learning to navigate emotional depth, it struck a chord.

*#JodhaAkbar*
A rare historical in Ekta’s lineup, Jodha Akbar brought her signature flair to royalty. The romance between two powerful individuals was grand, intense, and addictive. It proved that Ekta’s storytelling didn’t need to be set in drawing rooms; it could fill palaces too.

*#YehHaiMohabbatein*
With this, Ekta matured her brand of storytelling. Yeh Hai Mohabbatein was contemporary, complex, and emotionally rich. Ishita and Raman’s layered relationship, paired with Shreya Ghoshal’s soothing title track, brought a sense of grown-up nostalgia to long-time fans of Ekta’s world.

*#BadeAchheLagteHain*
With Bade Achhe Lagte Hain, Ekta Kapoor told a love story that felt different, mature, unhurried, and heartbreakingly real. Ram and Priya weren’t starry-eyed twenty-somethings; they were grown-ups navigating loneliness, life, and love. The title track, a soft reprise of the timeless classic, became the soul of the show. It played like a gentle reminder that love can bloom at any stage, quietly, unexpectedly, and beautifully.

By Keerti Kadam