Portrayal of friendships on Indian Soaps!

Read as we list down the stereotypes around male friendships on the Indian tellies.

Sanchita Jhunjhunwala Thumbnail

Sanchita Jhunjhunwala

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It's been more than 2 decades of Indian Television and the cliches around male friendships are just getting stronger and more typical. Be it about getting things done magically, or about being the all-time personal assistant of the male lead, these friends have done it all on Indian dailies.

Today, list down for you, the stereotypes around male friendships on the Indian tellies:

1. From best-friends to brother-in-law!


The journey from being friends to brother-in-laws isn't very long. Either the friend falls in love with the lead's sister which we've witnessed in the case of Mohit-Naitik (Ayush Agarwal and Karan Mehra) in Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, or the lead falls in love with the friend's sister, which happened with Raman-Mihir (Karan Patel and Raj Singh Arora) in Yeh Hai Mohabbatein. It often happens that the friend falls in love with the leads' wife's sister, which we've seen in the case of Abhi-Purab (Shabbir Ahluwalia and Arjit Taneja) in Kumkum Bhagya. Complicated eh?

2. They always share the same friends, family and enemies!


Our daily soaps very much abide by the slogan - 'Jo tera hai vo mera hai.' Almost all of us do, don't we? Our friend's friend is our friend and their enemy is also our enemy. One of the best examples here would be Raman-Mihir, where Raman's family is family for Mihir (Raman's mummyji and papaji) and Raman's enemy is an enemy to Mihir as well. (Ashok for example)

3.  The friend has to be an epitome of SACRIFICES


Be it going against their own will or giving up on anything and anyone, the friends on TV have done it all. The feeling of friendship is strong enough (only in the leads friend though) to play the victim. An all time example is the duo of Siddhant - Armaan (Karan Wahi and Karan Singh Grover) in one of our favourite shows, Dill Mill Gayye.

4. The best friend is more of a sidekick


The friend and the lead are never given an equal stature and the friend, therefore, always ends up playing the sidekick. The friend has done it all, from assisting the lead with his office work to do some of his chores! It's more of a friend turned personal assistant on Indian TV. The best-suited example's' here would be the duo of Abeer - Nisaar (Pearl V Puri and Suyyash Rai) in Phir Bhi Naa Maane Badtameez Dil and Raman - Mihir in Yeh Hai Mohabbatein!

 5. Friends add a comic element to the show


Since Indian TV always portrays the lead in a rather serious light, it is the friend who brings in the adequate amount of humor! The duo of Mohit-Naitik is one of the best example, we all remember the early days of Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, don't we?

 6. Bhabhi is always right'


The idea of Bhai Bhai' goes for a toss once Bhabhi comes into the scene! After all, who else is going to save them from 'Bhai ka gussa!' Indian soaps have taken the concept of 'Bhabhi is equal to a mother figure' way too seriously. One of the perfect examples here will be the duo of Purab and Pragya in Kumkum Bhagya!

7. The friend turns Cupid!


Be it about love at first sight or about solving a fight with his love, the friend has a solution to everything. Going back to the rather earlier days where the duo of Atul-Armaan (Pankit Thakker and Karan V Grover) worked each others' love life out in just the perfect way, in Dill Mill Gayye.

What else do you think are the stereotypes around male friendships on daily soaps? Leave your comments below. 

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Pankit Thakker Thumbnail

Pankit Thakker

Raj Singh Arora Thumbnail

Raj Singh Arora

Jennifer Winget Thumbnail

Jennifer Winget

Karan Patel Thumbnail

Karan Patel

Karan Singh Grover Thumbnail

Karan Singh Grover

Anita Hassanandani Thumbnail

Anita Hassanandani

Shabbir Ahluwalia Thumbnail

Shabbir Ahluwalia

Sunaina Gulia Thumbnail

Sunaina Gulia

Sriti Jha Thumbnail

Sriti Jha

Karan Mehra Thumbnail

Karan Mehra

Ayush Agarwal Thumbnail

Ayush Agarwal

Nidhi Uttam Thumbnail

Nidhi Uttam

Suyyash Rai Thumbnail

Suyyash Rai

Mrunal Thakur Thumbnail

Mrunal Thakur

Sangraam Singh Thumbnail

Sangraam Singh

Arjit Taneja Thumbnail

Arjit Taneja

Pearl V Puri Thumbnail

Pearl V Puri

Dill Mill Gayye poster

Dill Mill Gayye

Phir Bhi Na Maane..Badtameez Dil poster

Phir Bhi Na Maane..Badtameez Dil

Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai poster

Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai

Yeh Hai Mohabbatein poster

Yeh Hai Mohabbatein

Kumkum Bhagya poster

Kumkum Bhagya

Comments (50)

Thank you so much for this article.It is really relevant.
The third stereotype has been aptly listed.The best friend goes to any lengths to see his friend (the lead) happy but when he needs help he has to beg and plead before his friend.He always readily helps out and stands by the lead and his family,yet the lead's family disrespects him and abuses him and is ungrateful to him.The lead never takes the required stand for the friend he claims is his closest.The feeling of friendship is actually strong enough only in the lead's friend...the lead just mouths the tag of best friend but fails miserably in living upto it.

6 years ago

Raman Mihir bonding is nice.
Karan Patel and Raj Singh Arora are best.
Love yeh hai mohabbatein..

6 years ago

Love you loads Karan Mehra
You are the best and will always be dear Karan Mehra

6 years ago

Divyaanita Thumbnail

D1118444

@D1118444

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6 years ago

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6 years ago

Since the writer seems so obsessed with Raman-Mihir let me remind you that they were actually brother-in-law's turned best friends. Mihir is Raman's first wife's brother aka Shagun's brother.

6 years ago

Dear 'IF' ,
If You Guys Don't wanna Mention Karan Singh Grover's Name It Is Ok..
But AtLeast Repect The Iconic Show Dill Mill Gayye

In 3rd Point You mention Armaan Malik as Karan Singh Grover

and In Last Point Armaan Malik's Name You mentioned Is Karan V Grover..

Is It By Mistake?
That Meant Article Is Not Written By same Writer or 1 Writer Shayad Isi Liye Karan Singh Grover Karan V Grover Ban Gaya last Point Tak aate aate..

Dill Mill Gayye Is Not Just A Daily Soap..
So, please From Next Time Recheck When ever You mention some 1 Name related To Iconic Shows..

Thank You..

6 years ago

Loved Armaan qnd Atul's friendship

6 years ago

Karan Patel, Divyanka Tripathi and Raj Singh Arora rock in Yeh Hai Mohabbatein !

6 years ago

Dvyanka Tripathi & Karan Patel as IshRA rocks on Yeh Hai Mohabbatein!

6 years ago

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