6 iconic Hindi serial couples who once ruled Indian TV: From Kutumb to Kumkum

Before Naagins and houseflies took over Indian TV, things were a bit simpler, well, simpler melodrama, anyway. The screens were ruled by endless mother-in-law vs daughter-in-law showdowns, couple spats that lasted forever, dramatic breakups, and those inevitable, tearful reunions. And who got the blame for wrecking everyone’s favourite couples? None other than Ekta Kapoor, the queen of chaos who kept us hooked for years. Oh, the heartbreak—and the entertainment.

But, couples, whether by Ekta Kapoor or not, were always well-loved. So well-loved, that fans still demand a reunion. Will they ever get the Barun Sobti-Sanaya Irani magic back?

Not really. Nevertheless, there's no harm in reliving the good old days, as Reddit users frequently do.

It's impossible to not begin the list with them. For most of us who grew up with Kutumb hitting headlines every day, Tejwani and Pradhan were household names. Their enemies-to-lovers trope was so addictive that Kutumb didn't want to give up their chemistry just yet, and had a Season 2 as well, which followed Walk to Remember storyline. The two were so well-loved, that they signed on for Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, as Karan and Nandini and continued their dream reign of melodrama there. And, they're married in real life, with twins too.

Another dream pair who ruled the television screens with Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon, another enemies-to-lovers trope and a marriage contract trope thrown in too mind you, the on-screen pairing became famous as 'Arshi', coined by their two characters, Arnav and Khushi. Everyone loves the angry (read: toxic) man, falling in love with the chirpy simpleton. It worked like magic.

For all the rumours about difficulties off-screen, Khan and Tiwari practically immortalised the roles of Anurag Basu and Prerna Sharma in the serial Kasautii Zindagi Kay, which ran for over eight years. The couple on the show was rather star-crossed, and separated by misunderstandings and er...never really reunited, but their chemistry kept the show alive, till Khan left the show and was replaced by Tejwani.

The two first worked together on Kasautii Zindagi Kay before starring as Armaan Singh and Riddhima in the medical drama Dill Mill Gayye. Interestingly, Winget was the third actress to portray Riddhima, following Shilpa Anand and Sukriti Kandpal, yet she remained a fan favourite. Off-screen, Grover and Winget got married but later separated.

Another popular favourite: Khandewal and Shariff, in Kahiin Toh Hoga, which was loosely (read very, very loosely) based on Pride and Prejudice. Khandewal played the role of Sujal, an arrogant businessman, who falls in love with feisty Kashish (Shariff). Of course, owing to a series of needless misunderstandings, they're separated, but they find their way back to each other. Their pairing was so well-loved, that even today, fans ask Khandewal about his time on the show.

Well, what do you do when someone doesn't want to marry your best friend and they're left at the altar? Sigh, yes, well, your reservations aside that's what kickstarted the chemistry for Hussain Kuwajerwala and Juhi Parmar in the show Kumkum Pyara Sa Ek Bandan. A favourite among fans, the story followed their many separations and trials, and their determination to find each other in their next life too. You can't fight that kind of chemistry, now can you.