Yes, I have watched this show from the beginning. I know the story and I was also one of the admirer (not fan though) of it's lead. If I mostly criticise her now - its because of what she has become.
Two things are very offensive in TM's post - one - asking people if they have watched from start - is it given that anyone who has watched this serial from the start will not criticize the lead, or those criticising the lead has started watching recently? I think people can put their opinion even on the basis of a few episode - limiting their views to those episodes only.
Another thing is the words typical Indian mentality in an offensive and negative way. Do u think Indians have such negative mentality and other people are better?
And I agree with @Stephi - people here twist the wordings, intentions and even whole scene to glorify the lead. Since I can't hear properly - I used to believe those twisted facts. Only recently I got to know that these are mostly one person's perception and mostly one sided views repeated enough times to make it like this is what happened actually.