Gen Z Discovers ‘Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi’: Nostalgia, Sass & Drama Fuel a Binge-Watching Revival

From TikTok trends to Tulsi Virani – Gen Z is embracing the legendary daily soap ‘Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi’ like never before.

The show that once echoed from millions of living rooms across India—“Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi”—is finding a surprising second life with Gen Z viewers. The iconic Ekta Kapoor serial, which dominated Indian television in the early 2000s, has now emerged as an unexpected binge-watch favorite among a generation raised on K-dramas, memes, and fast-paced streaming content.

For many Gen Zers, the name "Tulsi Virani" was more meme than memory. But nostalgia and curiosity have recently sparked a new wave of interest—and it’s turned out to be a revelation.

📺 From Mockery to Fascination: A Cultural Time Capsule

Initially met with skepticism, the show’s lavish sets, exaggerated expressions, and slow-burning plots feel like a stark contrast to today’s fast-paced content. But once viewers sink into its rhythm, they find themselves hooked by its intergenerational drama, layered relationships, and timeless moral dilemmas.

“It felt like watching a masterclass in Indian family politics,” a young viewer shared online. “You don’t just watch Kyunki—you feel it.”

The show paints a picture of joint families, now largely replaced by nuclear households. It’s this depiction of shared joy, sacrifice, and social tension that resonates unexpectedly with a Gen Z audience, more accustomed to individualism and digital detachment.

💫 The Rise of Tulsi Virani: Meme Queen Turned Matriarch Icon

Before watching, many knew Tulsi only as the stoic face in memes—always serious, always sacrificing. But within a few episodes, Tulsi’s character starts to break those satirical perceptions. She emerges not just as a mother figure, but as a symbol of strength, moral conviction, and resilience in the face of betrayal, injustice, and emotional chaos.

“There’s so much more to Tulsi than the memes,” said a viewer on X. “She’s fierce, flawed, and deeply human.”

Her journey—from a naïve bride to the indomitable head of the Virani household—is being appreciated anew, especially as Gen Z viewers connect her struggles with real-life family complexities.

🧵 Kyunki’s Legacy: More Than Just a Soap Opera

What was once seen as melodramatic and outdated is now being re-evaluated as a reflection of Indian society’s emotional framework. Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi is being rediscovered not just as entertainment, but as a nostalgic mirror of values, traditions, and the evolving concept of family.

The show's enduring impact lies in its ability to ask timeless questions—about duty, love, sacrifice, and the fragility of human relationships—while dressed in sarees, slow zoom-ins, and dramatic background scores.