Kumkum Bhagya New Season | Episode Discussions Thread #5 - Page 121

Originally posted by: asmitamohanty

You're absolutely right to feel upset—Specially Shivansh and Sonalika conversation...because that kind of twist completely undermines the emotional integrity of Shivansh’s character arc that we have witnessed shaping up so carefully and meaningfully

Shivansh is a man haunted by abandonment, emotionally constipated not because he’s incapable of love but because he’s been burned too deeply by it. His resistance to vulnerability, his self-imposed isolation, his belief that he’s unworthy of love—all of that only makes sense if love was something he had either never experienced or never believed in enough to risk again.

To say he was once madly in love with Sonalika and even proposed to her is not just inconsistent—it’s a betrayal of his emotional foundation.

If he truly had that kind of vulnerable, intense relationship with Sonalika:

Why would he suddenly fear vulnerability after that?

Why would he push away someone like Prarthana, unless she was the first to actually reach his soul?

Why would he even fake-marry Prarthana to get revenge, unless his brokenness ran deeper than any previous love affair?

This twist isn't just lazy; it's cheap drama at the expense of depth.

The way they had shown Sonalika was always a convenience, a societal match whom he had a friendship—nothing more.

Prarthana is the disruption, the mirror, the challenger, the anchor.

And Shivansh’s journey is not from love to love—but from void to feeling, numbness to need, isolation to intimacy.

To reduce that arc by claiming he already had that kind of emotional connection with Sonalika is not only shallow, but frankly, offensive to everything Shivansh Randhawa stands for...

I just didn't like what they did...

They are just trying to make Sonalika relevant in the story but but at what expense......at the cost of the best and most loved character of this show

I read it wrong, wait I thought you posted Sonalika propose cause that's what we guess. So it was Shivansh and how was he in love, when he told Sona 1.0, what does a child who mother abandon him and his father to marry another knows about love

This doesn't make sense, so Shivanash loved Sona and he never reflected, regretted stop to think, his hands didn't even shake while putting MS around Prart neck. What kind of love is that, someone is out of their minds here cause it makes no sense

Originally posted by: asmitamohanty

I can't believe that they are doing this.... going to this extent to make Sonalika and her actions relevant...

it's not just emotional frustration, it's intellectual betrayal by the writers. You’ve invested in a story built on emotional complexity, psychological depth, and a character whose silence screamed louder than any dialogue. And now, in the eleventh hour, they’re bulldozing it all for... what, manufactured closure for a character that never deserved center stage to begin with?

"He proposed to her"

Let’s humor this for a second. Say he did propose. Then everything we've seen of him since—his inability to trust, to connect, to love Prarthana fully even when he’s breaking apart inside—is pure performative nonsense? Was his pain just… dramatic garnish?

His arc only made sense if he’d never risked his heart before. If he was untouched, unscarred by love—because love never happened for him until Prarthana. That’s what made their dynamic so achingly real.

Now what? They want us to believe that Prarthana isn't the storm that shook him, but merely the girl he happened to marry because Sonalika exited stage left?

No. Absolutely not.

"He meant it at that time"

This line should be banned from all emotionally driven stories. “I meant it at that time” is the laziest, most cowardly way to retain sympathy while invalidating everything the current story stands for.

If Shivansh meant it, then:

His coldness toward Prarthana wasn’t fear, it was just… indifference.

His eventual surrender to her wasn’t growth, it was settling.

And his breakdowns, his apologies, his vulnerability—they were all hollow.

What does that make Prarthana? A rebound with good timing?

Are we seriously expected to root for a love where one would have happily married someone else if his mother hadn’t re-entered his life? If Sonalika hadn’t been absent, Prarthana wouldn’t exist in his story? That’s not just narrative injustice—that’s emotional treachery.....

This is not my Shivansh....and I am refusing to accept it... Nagpal needs to retire asap.....

Exactly.. vohi toh! Okay let’s even consider that he only liked Sona and it wasn’t some true love. Still.. she was caring, educated, self-independent, a morally upright woman who loved him with all her heart. So how exactly are they trying to paint Prarthana as the “ideal match”?

Only bcoz she’s overtly devoted, takes pati-bhakti to another level and risks her life to save him? Does this kind of sorcery even happen in real life?

No one faces life-threatening situations every other day… and who’s to say Sona wouldn’t have done the same if she’d been in that position?

And let’s not forget ..all those incidents even started after he married Prarthana.. (Durbhagya chronicles )

So yes.. realistically ShivLika would have been perfectly happy if they’d married each other

Originally posted by: TintedBlossom

Exactly.. vohi toh! Okay let’s even consider that he only liked Sona and it wasn’t some true love. Still.. she was caring, educated, self-independent, a morally upright woman who loved him with all her heart. So how exactly are they trying to paint Prarthana as the “ideal match”?

Only bcoz she’s overtly devoted, takes pati-bhakti to another level and risks her life to save him? Does this kind of sorcery even happen in real life?

No one faces life-threatening situations every other day… and who’s to say Sona wouldn’t have done the same if she’d been in that position?

And let’s not forget ..all those incidents even started after he married Prarthana.. (Durbhagya chronicles )

So yes.. realistically ShivLika would have been perfectly happy if they’d married each other

The scene was not needed at all. Shivansh actually gave me the vibe of Leena Ganguly's ML's today.

I really Hope Namik has prepared a better monologue for his love confession to Prarthana.

Originally posted by: Mrinmoyi_me

Ok I get your point. I also felt bad for Sonalika when Shiv was acting cold and it did felt like he is a selfish man with no care for his fiance.

The scene was not needed at all. Shivansh actually gave me the vibe of Leena Ganguly's ML's today.

You know it actually hurts when they do this to the character I loved with all my heart

Originally posted by: pyar-ishk

I read it wrong, wait I thought you posted Sonalika propose cause that's what we guess. So it was Shivansh and how was he in love, when he told Sona 1.0, what does a child who mother abandon him and his father to marry another knows about love

This doesn't make sense, so Shivanash loved Sona and he never reflected, regretted stop to think, his hands didn't even shake while putting MS around Prart neck. What kind of love is that, someone is out of their minds here cause it makes no sense

Now when I think of it...may be they introduced it to make Shivansh guilty only...guilty towards Sonalika...and isi guilt ko weapon bana ke woh shayad shaadi ke mandap tak bhi le jaye....

Like I can't believe.... there was not a single sign of real relationship between them....no memory,no nostalgia..not even once was Shivansh conflicted between Sonalika and Prarthana....and abb suddenly this

Originally posted by: TintedBlossom

Exactly.. vohi toh! Okay let’s even consider that he only liked Sona and it wasn’t some true love. Still.. she was caring, educated, self-independent, a morally upright woman who loved him with all her heart. So how exactly are they trying to paint Prarthana as the “ideal match”?

Only bcoz she’s overtly devoted, takes pati-bhakti to another level and risks her life to save him? Does this kind of sorcery even happen in real life?

No one faces life-threatening situations every other day… and who’s to say Sona wouldn’t have done the same if she’d been in that position?

And let’s not forget ..all those incidents even started after he married Prarthana.. (Durbhagya chronicles )

So yes.. realistically ShivLika would have been perfectly happy if they’d married each other

Coz Prarthana understood his feelings and Sona never did. Best example is that lunch scene. When Shiv left after taking a spoonful stating he’s not hungry, Sona just sat eating saying she’s hungry while Prats would’ve nagged him to eat…

Sona would’ve helped Shiv take the revenge never understanding that he’d be all the more broken after destroying his mother, but Prarthana understood that and tried to stop him from doing so and asked him to talk to his mother. Sonalika is materialistic while Prarthana is a realist, he himself said that he’s never seen somebody as pure a Prats. I believe this is the difference.

And love always needn’t be ‘first’ to have an impact. He might’ve been in relationships before/ loved someone else before but he’ll not be able to love anyone other than Prarthana now. I know I’m not making much sense but I hope you understand what I am trying to convey.

In my opinion they didn’t ruin Shivansh, rather they kept up with his character of a flawed anti hero. He’s no saint but after Prats he’s very much willing to become one.

Originally posted by: Mrinmoyi_me

Ok I get your point. I also felt bad for Sonalika when Shiv was acting cold and it did felt like he is a selfish man with no care for his fiance.

The scene was not needed at all. Shivansh actually gave me the vibe of Leena Ganguly's ML's today.

I really Hope Namik has prepared a better monologue for his love confession to Prarthana.

Nooo....no... even Anirudh was a lot more caring and guilty towards Arshi.... sometimes a bit too guilty he was 😂...but there it looked like even though he loves Jhanak now ..but he did have a long real relationship with her.... doesn't matter wheather true love or not...but it was a relationship..

Here mujhe ekk bhi instance nahi mila where I could feel that Shivansh and Sonalika had anything real.,... forget about romance, memories or anything....now suddenly this...

Such an unnecessary scene

Originally posted by: Butterfly01

Okay.. I have a slightly different opinion about this episode.

So Shivansh needed this conversation with Sonalika. We legit don’t know the actual depth of their relationship and today we got to know that Shiv proposed to Sona and maybe would’ve loved her(not the true love kinds but as a partner). And it’s been 5 years.
If Roopam would’ve still played Sona, maybe we would’ve even sympathised with her. She legit got cheated on and we cannot deny that.

And with this conversation Shiv will get to have a closure, like he might’ve liked Sona in the past but now what he feels for Prarthana is entirely different. It is more potent, untameable and raw. And Namik conveyed all that through his mannerisms. He’s changed after Prarthana.
And whatever Tanya said makes sense too. Though she did try to uplift Sonalika, she also showed that she only cares about her bhai and his happiness and she understood that her bhai’s happiness is with Prats coz her love and care are genuine. Albeit a lost cause she still urges Sona to love her bhai the same way Prats does.

So in my opinion it’s not a very bad episode. Ha it seemed like a filler but we did end up getting a lot of perspective too.

aah this was kind of expected already . Tbh Shivansh is not a type of guy who could be forced to marry someone he has not chosen himself. So, BM, Tanya and Kartik and somewhat extant Sonalika preaching about Shivansh loves her and even her mom at their sangeet makes sense and he never denied it. Her dad even told Mr. Luthra Shivansh shares everything with Sonalika.
Also her mom saying how he keeps her happiness in mind. As he does not like dancing but he danced for her. Sure he may have never loved Sonalika based on how he was ignoring her . He was happy to make his caring friend his life partner with business perks at one point. I remember Shivansh told Karan sir about how sometimes love is not in destiny and he wishes people find that type of love. So, when he proposed Sonalika she was center of his attention . And she thought his care is love. As he would run around for heras per BM. Deep down Sonalika even knows Shivansh does not love her like feels for Prarthana

That was the sweet loving Shivansh before he saw his mom is alive. Once he saw his mom the wounds reopened . BM lies and manipulations hurt and broke him more and made him a meaner person because he saw the person who he loves the most and had highest expectations from of unconditional love and loyalty.

When Sonalika was talking Kartik she had said she has known Shivansh for 7 years and it has come down to 5 years nice job Ekta cv’s a typical thing in Ekta show.

He never saw it coming he will fall for Prarthana and for him this relationship so real since he married her.

Now, Shivansh will feel real angst.

I know it might be annoying that we did not get PraShiv scenes today and we have been deprived of them for so long. But guys for a story to move forward we need the back story and sometimes side characters will be given more space then leads because that is necessary at the point. We cannot always have leads in every scene or every episode. I am sure we will get PraShiv tomorrow or definitely on Monday.

Also this crucial part as well for us to understand Shivansh complex character.

For Tanya I will just like to say you do have some common sense.

If it was Roopam I would have felt bad for Sonalika. But this new girl does not give that vibe.

Sometimes people change and sometimes people have to let them go.
but this is a show and we cannot expect that in a Ekta show atleast.

BM is just vile and evil.

Originally posted by: pyar-ishk

I just want to know can we enterI agree cause Tanya comes off as a hypocrite and she forgot how she was talking to Gayatri. Please Tanya shut and take a seat in a corner

1000%

Originally posted by: Butterfly01

Not necessarily an emotional connection. This talk is just to make Shiv understand that whatever he felt with Sonalika is entirely different from what he’s feeling for Prarthana. A comparison of sorts.
He thought of Sonalika as a good partner, very superficial but Prarthana caressed his soul. She showed what true LOVE is.
And the makers will also have to give a reason why Sona is so obsessed with Shiv in the first place. We have a detailed perspective of why Raunak is obsessed with Prarthana, so this a very poorly written perspective of why Sona is obsessed with Shiv.

Another perspective I wanted to add- Shivansh is so blinded by revenge that even his prior engagement with Sona didn’t stop him from doing what he did and his love for Prarthana grew so much that he’ll stop everything for her, will try to make peace with his past for her.

You know the fact that I am sooo soo protective and concerned for this character is because I love Shivansh Randhawa a lot...like a lot...and I don't want them to butcher it at any cost...and for a bland chart like Sonalika toh bilkul bhi nahi...

I get what you mean.,may be maker's intention was that only...but to me it looked like “let’s justify Sonalika’s obsession and Shivansh’s past with her through some half-baked emotional comparison” is a band-aid on a broken narrative, and it only exposes how the makers are grasping at straws to give retroactive meaning to something that never deserved it in the first place.

“He felt something different with Sona vs. Prarthana” — But Did He Really?

This idea of comparison sounds poetic I agree, but only works if There was ever something real with Sonalika to compare in the first place.That relationship shaped him in some way we saw or felt.

But in reality:

Shivansh was never shown caring deeply for Sonalika.

There were no memories, no lingering regret, no unresolved guilt.

He never even mentioned her with any emotional weight until now.

So this “he thought it was love with Sonalika but learned what real love is with Prarthana” angle just the writers trying to retroactively give meaning to a character whose only function was to serve the revenge arc. It feels forced, insincere, and ultimately unnecessary.

That’s a convenient character flip to drag drama in the final stretch. Unless they give her a powerful, intimate, broken reason for this madness (which they won’t), this arc is just lazy writing dressed up in emotional jargon.

Shivansh Being Blinded by Revenge? Okay. But...

This is the only part of the logic that can slightly hold if written well. Shivansh’s revenge has always been a blinding force. But again, the idea that he was engaged to Sonalika and still chose to use someone else (Prarthana) in that revenge without blinking… doesn’t make him “powerful,” it makes him morally unhinged.

And then we’re expected to believe:

“But his love for Prarthana is so deep, now he’ll heal, he’ll stop for her.”

Okay. But when was this love arc written? Where was the slow realization, the guilt, the internal conflict?

Did he ever, at any point, seem torn between Sonalika and Prarthana? No. Because there was no competition. There never should have been. The narrative wasn’t love triangle—it was emotional evolution.

So the maker's attempt here feels shallow because there was never any meaningful bond with Sonalika to begin with....