When Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 premiered on July 29, 2025, it offered viewers a heavy dose of nostalgia, complete with Tulsi watering the sacred plant, archival voiceovers of Baa, and the title track playing loud and clear. Yet, beneath familiar rituals and heartfelt reunions lies a storyline that still leans heavily on sacrifice as a symbol of love, a hallmark of the original era.
The trope of love being showcased as an ultimate sacrifice has garnered mixed media attention, with people highlighting how the show is still leaning towards showing love being self-sacrifice, especially by the women. Understanding how this genre might affect the audience and the perception of women today, Dr Bhavna Barmi, Sr. Clinical & Child Psychologist and Relationship Therapist at Fortis Escorts Heart Institute and Happiness Studio, Delhi, shared her insights.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2: New Season, Same Problems
The first episode aired on July 29, and the show was nothing short of reminiscent drama, with rituals, family values, and Tulsi, who keeps everything together through silent resilience. The 38th anniversary of the wedding between Tulsi and Mihir is shown as a plot twist in which the characters are reintroduced. Tulsi is depicted as fretting over her weight and looks, and managing dramatic situations within the family, yet she does not dedicate any time to prioritising herself.
According to Dr Barmi, “This reboot provides an effective exploration of nostalgia, but it still needs to do far more to confront insecurities that women still face. Rather, it appears to repeat the original tropes in which women are supposed to carry emotional loads in silence and in many cases, such pain is synonymous with virtue and love.”
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Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2: Same Message with the New Generation
Another issue that the social media and the reviewers are concerned with is the glorification of sacrifice as a key attribute of love and devotion. The character of Tulsi still prioritises others over her own self. As her daughter and son body-shame her and her son get arrested, she reacts calmly, piteously and blames herself. She does not have much room to break out in anger, fatigue or even expect respect.
“This particular scene has presumably struck a particularly strong chord in the early 2000s, but in 2025, where greater understanding has risen on mental health and dissolving gender roles, the question many young viewers will feel is: why does love still need so much pain?,” pointed out Dr Barmi.
What Relationship Expert Says
The show has garnered strong opinions from media psychologists and relationship experts, critiquing their portrayal to seemingly promote unhealthy self-sacrifice ideals, in particular, when it comes to women. “These images can support inappropriate emotional demands, such as, to be a good daughter, wife, or mother, a woman should be self-sacrificing,” outlined Dr Barmi.
Fan Reaction: Gen-Z Highlights Follies in Show
Kyunki 2 has received a mixed reaction. Some are ecstatic with the comeback of Tulsi and Mihir, labelling the show a warm hug of the past, while others are complaining that it is a truism-laden, over-clichéd trope. Dr Barmi underscored, “People are craving more realistic depictions and showing love with all its mutual respect, boundaries, and personal growth and not only endurance and suffering.”
Most Gen Z audiences have gone to social media and claimed that they identify with the villains more than good female characters. Questioning characters, ones who rebel against the established norm or even express their selfish needs, come out truer living in the world where it is now an emotional health being taken seriously.
Is the Message Changing?
Although newer issues are raised in the show (body image, relationship breakdowns, and family pressures), it continues to address all of them in the same halo of emotional sacrifice. Tulsi has limited time to say no, establish some boundaries, or voice any other kind of strength, but for now, she is silent.
“As far as the show is concerned, there is potential. A new voice is foreseen with the advent of new characters such as Gayatri and Pari. By leaving these younger women to be free to offer up alternatives, the show might give us access to a richer discussion about love, identity and where a woman belongs in the family life,” concluded Dr Barmi.
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Conclusion: Brimming Hope
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 is an effective remake of its original and provides a sense of familiarity and format to the regular audience as well as the new generation. However, in doing the same, it will also pose the possibility of holding onto old ideals too firmly. With the continued evolution of Indian television, the fans are hoping that this legendary show will evolve with the times as well, and transform what it fully means to love, lead, and have the experience to be a woman. However, it remains to be seen whether Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 will be willing to drop Tulsi off the hook of being the emotional support of the family?