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Entertainment • Television Series

Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai

Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai is an Indian Hindi-language romantic family drama television series that premiered on StarPlus on 12 January 2009.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai (abbreviated YRKKH) is an Indian Hindi-language romantic family drama television series that premiered on 12 January 2009 on StarPlus. It is widely described as the longest-running Indian television soap opera and also streams on Disney+ Hotstar. The series follows multi-generational family relationships and marriage.

Premise

The series follows family relationships, marriage, and multi-generational domestic drama. Early storylines focused on Akshara and Naitik, an arranged-marriage couple whose relationship develops over time.

Broadcast and availability

Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai airs on StarPlus and is also available on Disney+ Hotstar. It is produced in India in the Hindi language.

Production and longevity

The series is produced by Rajan Shahi under Director's Kut Productions. It is noted for its unusually long run and for reaching major episode-count milestones, including being the first Hindi show to cross 2,500 episodes and reaching 5,000 episodes in December 2025.

Cast and generations

The show has featured multiple lead actors across different story arcs, including Hina Khan, Karan Mehra, Shivangi Joshi, Mohsin Khan, Pranali Rathod, Harshad Chopda, Samridhii Shukla, and Shehzada Dhami.

Key facts

  • Premiered on 12 January 2009 on StarPlus.
  • Widely described as the longest-running Indian television soap opera.
  • First Hindi show to cross 2,500 episodes; reached 5,000 episodes in December 2025.
  • Focuses on multi-generational family drama and relationships.
  • Also available to stream on Disney+ Hotstar.
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Canadian context

The series is relevant to Canadian audiences through the South Asian diaspora, especially viewers of Hindi-language television and streaming entertainment in Canada.

Frequently asked questions

What does Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai mean?
The title is commonly translated as “What Is This Relationship Called?”
When did Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai first air?
It premiered on 12 January 2009.
Which channel broadcasts the show?
It airs on StarPlus and streams on Disney+ Hotstar.
Why is the series notable?
It is widely described as the longest-running Indian television soap opera and has crossed major episode-count milestones.
What was the original story about?
Early seasons centered on Akshara and Naitik, an arranged-marriage couple from large family settings.
Is the show still running?
The latest sources describe it as ongoing and note episode milestones reached in 2025.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yeh_Rishta_Kya_Kehlata_Hai
    Supports: Premiere date, title translation, genre, StarPlus broadcast, Disney+ Hotstar streaming, long-running status, episode milestones
  2. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7112704/
    Supports: Plot premise, long-running series format, family drama description
  3. Google Play — https://play.google.com/store/tv/show/Yeh_Rishta_Kya_Kehlata_Hai?id=8A7E50E5D04DEBD4SH&hl=en_SG
    Supports: Series description, StarPlus broadcast, Disney+ Hotstar streaming, Rajan Shahi/Director's Kut Productions, cast
  4. Wikipedia (Vietnamese) — https://vi.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C3%ACnh_y%C3%AAu_di%E1%BB%87u_k%E1%BB%B3_(phim_truy%E1%BB%81n_h%C3%ACnh_%E1%BA%A4n_%C4%90%E1%BB%99)
    Supports: Director's Kut Productions, premiere date, cast names, Star Plus broadcast
  5. Bollywood Life — https://www.bollywoodlife.com/tv-show/yeh-rishta-kya-kehlata-hai/
    Supports: Production by Rajan Shahi's Director's Kut Productions and episode milestones