The most compelling modern Indian family dramas are those caught in the tectonic shift between tradition and modernity.

Indian lifestyle stories often highlight the country's rich cultural diversity and the various challenges faced by people from different walks of life. Some common themes include:

For decades, Indian television (think Kyuki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi ) shaped these stories with exaggerated melodrama—evil saases, amnesiac heroes, and plot twists involving identical twins.