Hi Nethra!
Look we trp audience specially my family aren't actually attached to any characters, we just watch for time pass and we move on with characters without holding grudges. I can totally understand online viewers sentiments because ghum isn't an easy show to watch, u need to have big hearts sometimes because the emotions and toxicity they show here is very close to reality and it hits home without preaching anything like Anupama ka 10 pages ka lectures.
Keeping aside some trp based drama ghum is purely based on emotions and characters emotions are shown very close to reality. Be it BK, Sonali or Omi, this characters are very real, tough matriarch, popcorn entertainment like Sonali and Karishma.
For online viewers Sai the rebel is favorite but for our family the drama creater are favourites and they are Virat, Pakhi and BK(plz Don't judge me in morality basis)
What ghum tops on majority is emotional side and more focused on Jodi ka emotional bond than physical bond