6 longest-running Hindi shows with over 15 years on air: CID to Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai:

As a child, I used to think that two years was a long run for a Hindi serial. Then, watching Kasautii Zindagii Kay and Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi with my mother gave me a sharp reality check.

Those shows had gone on for seven years. In those seven years, we went through what seemed like infinite generational leaps, grandchildren, great grand-children taking on the reigns, and so on. 

So, in that spirit, here are the top 5 Hindi serials that are still running.

One of Indian television’s longest-running true crime anthologies, Crime Patrol has been gripping audiences since 2003. Blending real-life incidents with dramatized reenactments, it attempts to mirror to society’s darkest corners.

Yes, it has been 20 years of Daya, darwaza tod do. And no, the thrill hasn’t worn off. CID became a cult classic not just for its cases, but for its characters, ACP Pradyuman, Daya, and Abhijeet, who became household names. Premiering in 1998 and running for two decades, the show combined classic whodunits with unintentional comedy, endlessly meme-worthy moments, and signature background scores. With dramatic pauses, head tilts, and door-breaking intensity, CID was less about forensic accuracy and more about fun, formulaic crime-solving. It’s a show that refused to take itself too seriously, and maybe that’s exactly why it stayed with us for so long.

The show officially ended in 2018 but was revived with a new season in 2024 and is now streaming on Netflix.

Love or hate it, it’s not going anywhere anytime soon. 

Seventeen years, one Gokuldham Society, and infinite “Jethalal!” exclamations later, Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, still a favourite. Premiering in 2008, this family-friendly sitcom has a slew of colourful characters—Jethalal’s exasperation, Daya’s garba, Popatlal’s search for a bride, and Bapuji’s moral high ground—the show blends slapstick with light social commentary. 

It began as a classic arranged marriage setup: the shy and soft-spoken Akshara (Hina Khan) marries Naitik (Karan Mehra), the dutiful son of a wealthy family. And from there, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai took off—and never looked back. Over the years, everything imaginable has unfolded: Akshara and Naitik had two children; Naitik slipped into a coma and eventually recovered; the couple faced marital boredom, emotional separations, reconciliations, and more.

Then the narrative baton passed to the next generation—Naira and Naksh. Naira’s whirlwind romance with Kartik brought a fresh wave of drama, from passionate love to messy divorce, heartfelt reunion, and multiple near-death experiences. Naira was presumed dead (more than once), actually died, and was later replaced by a lookalike—who, of course, eventually died too. Now, the focus has shifted to their children, and the saga continues. You get the drift.

For over a decade, Savdhaan India has delivered real-life crime stories with a mission: to inform, caution, and awaken viewers to the dangers lurking in everyday life. Premiering in 2012, the show has reenactments with a strong moral voice—typically delivered by rotating celebrity hosts like Sushant Singh and Ashutosh Rana, taking on domestic abuse, scams, stalking, or honour crimes.

Fans really diI don't want to overlook the chemistry between Shabbir Ahluwalia and Sriti Jha, who portrayed Pragya and Abhi, a couple caught in a seemingly troubled marriage. This show encompassed everything: dramatic breakups, memory loss, staged deaths, transformations, and time jumps that brought not one but two generations of turmoil. Abhi and Pragya consistently appeared to narrowly miss their happy ending.