Where other shows across the GEC's are focusing on cupid striking a couple, who face opposition from every corner, STAR Plus’ Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai is a refreshing change. The show talks about love, post marriage. It deals with the emotions and bond of a newly wed couple who get to know each-other in due course of time and eventually fall in love.
It is the simple story that has made the show a hit with the audience. Akshara and Naitik have become one of the most loved television couple. The show was a success right from the day it launched and ruled the roost for 11 weeks this year alone. This shows that viewers have welcomed the change warmly and have appreciated the channel’s approach and initiative.

The show completed its 400th episodes yesterday and the actors are upbeat about doubling the numbers thereby repeating its success. The successful run has overwhelmed the actors who have given their sweat and soul to the show. According to them, it always feels great when viewers appreciate their hard work and their loyalty towards a show transforms into TRPs.

Says protagonist Akshara, “It is a fantastic feeling as this is my debut show which has taken my career to new heights. I feel attached to this show emotionally and the character I play is extremely close to my heart. If you ask me the USP of the show then it has to be the simplicity that has worked in our favour. Audiences can easily relate and connect to simple and real characters and that’s what Yeh Rishta is all about.”

Echoing the sentiments, her mother Rajshri says, “It feels great to have completed a mark of 400 episodes successfully. The USP of the show is the emotions and small nuances that the viewers can relate to. A bahu can easily relate to the bahus on the show and so can a mother-in-law to the one they see on the show.”

She feels that it is the manner in which the characters have been written and worked upon so beautifully that they have eventually become so popular. “It’s not the actor who has made the character popular but the creative minds who have worked upon the characters so beautifully that they look real. We just portray it accordingly and this has worked in our favour,” quips the actress.

Akshara adds, “As a viewer you find it to be a story of any family staying next door to you. All the characters are so well etched out that you can’t help but end up loving them. The authenticity of the show has worked in our favour. This is how any Marwari family lives and looks at any relationship. This is a story of family and relationships. People simply love the sets and our costumes on the show. Our producer Rajan Shahi has taken extra care of every aspect of the production. He is caring, considerate and takes good care of us.”
Rajshri believes that it is the simplicity of the show that has worked in the favour of the show. She says, “There are no larger than life characters. They are all simple and real characters who any commoner can relate to. The show talks about day to day happenings which take place at any ordinary household which has made it a hit with the audience.”

Akshara feels that the concept of the joint family and all of them staying under the same roof and sharing each others’ problems is something that sets it apart from other shows.