BBHBBH Story & Character Sketch

Mansukh and Rasila have 3 children- Kavaliya, Gargi and Pallav. Kavliya is married to Jyotika and they also have a child. Gargi too is married but still keeps coming back very often. Bhallu and Sushila have two children - Hetal and Jai. This big joint family lives together in peace and harmony!

How can such a big joint family live in peace in harmony under one roof ? It is just not possible. It\'s possible, because it has been made possible. As they say a book cannot be judged by its cover, don't go by what you see at the first glance. Dig a little deeper and the truth presents itself.

The Popat family is divided in two parts -  the thinkers and the doers.  

Mansukh's side of the family is cunning, wicked and has a personal agenda always. Their needs are placed before anyone else's, and all things that happen in the house are crafted to what they want. 
 
While Bhallu's side family is simple, they have no concept or thought that another human being can hurt someone. The look up to Mansukh's side of the family and this simplicity is what Mansukh's family feasts on.
  
It all started when Rasila decided she could not spend her entire life cooking and cleaning, Mansukh vehemently supported her decision. It was decided that she should get her simpleton devar married to her unfussy sister Sushila. Since that day anything that Mansukh and her family want is fulfilled by Bhallu and his family. They have been running the show like this for years and no one questions it.

All is well till Ambalal decides to get Hetal married. The cunning family panics. Photos are exchanged and the boy has been decided. Hetal's engagement is a grand affair. Bhallu, Sushila and Jai cannot stop praising Rasila's choice for her. The boy's family asks for Hetal to be sent with them for a family function in another town. And then, as per Rasila 's advice, Jyotika uses her supposed astrological foresight to warn Hetal – in order to make this marriage happen, no matter where she is, Hetal has to perform a couple of silly rituals everyday, without explaining their significance to any one. A trusting Hetal abides by her words, even at her in-laws place and they start suspecting that she is a little crazy. On the top of it all, Jyotika manages to spread a rumor of Hetal's alleged link up with another boy in past. Her worried in-laws come to clarify and at that time, Rasila puts up a great act of being hurt by the questioning of their girls' character.

Will Hetal get married? Or will the cunning relatives destine her to a life sentence of slavery?

Character Sketch

AMBALAL POPAT (Age:  75)

Scion of a wealthy family; a well-to-do and family loving grand old man. He has a jewellery shop, and total value of his estate is around 80 crores. He was married to Heera at the age of 18, she was 'chunt' and ruled over him...He got tired of her, and she got tired of her dull life in Baroda. She went on a trip/yaatra and vanished ever since, only sending a message that she was safe. He has never bothered looking for her and enjoys his freedom. Ambalal is eccentric enough to have banned selling of diamonds from his shop because it reminds him of 'Heera'  He believes that his word is 'brahma vaakya'-  whatever has slipped out from his mouth, has to be followed exactly. He often says 'Maine keh diya so keh diya!' and never goes back on his word. He has a hearing problem, has a hearing aid, but forgets and wears it on wrong ear and never admits that he has this problem. He is a loving man, not a simple one, but the love of his family has blinded him to the wrong doings of Mansukh and his children, especially because they have never faltered in their behavior with him
 Hetal is the apple of his eye and he will do anything for her. Jai is a good grandson and is liked more because he actually handles the shop and carries forward the legacy, which none of the other sons and grandsons do. Baabli, the youngest has always seem weird to him, he scolds him to do something worthwhile in life, and therefore the young man does not like him.

MANSUKH POPAT (Age:  55)

 Elder son of Heera and Ambalal. He has a side business of money lending and is a typical blood sucking Shylock. He has taken completely on his mother. He does not spare either his customers or his family and friends. He likes to keep his younger simpleton brother Bhalu and his entire family under his thumb. He can ask them also behave in a miserly way, and the poor souls will agree to whatever he says. As a result they are all dressed plainly.  Mansukh loves his wife UNSELFISHLY- perhaps the only unselfish thing he can do in life. He often tells her of his day dreams after they inherit the old man's wealth. He does not have much regard for either of his sons. He considers the elder too self-centered and the younger one a duffer, and he dotes on his daughter and grand-daughter but will clearly not spend money on them

RASILA  POPAT   (Age:  50)

Wife of Mansukh, mother of Kaivalya, Gargi and Pallav – elder sister of Sushila. She has married Sushila to her simpleton devar-Bhalu, so that both remain under their thumbs forever. She always been jealous of younger sister who is more beautiful and because of her virtues like hard work, becomes a favourite of all she meets. Rasila enjoys living a good life, wearing expensive saris and jewellery. Mansukh being a kanjoos, does not like it, but she has perfected the art of getting money from him for whatever she wants. She believes it is her right to rule over the family, but she does it with such sweetness that she can hardly ever be caught. She loves her younger son the most in this world. She has great faith in his abilities and dreams that he will be a film star some day. Because she is not very beautiful, the fact that she has such a handsome son makes her very proud.

BHALCHANDRA  POPAT – 'BHALU'   (Age:  50)

Younger son of Heera and Ambalal, brother of Mansukh. He is a complete simpleton. His mother ran away when he was just five years old. So he is very much attached to his elder brother Mansukh and trusts Mansukh blindly. Bhalu is timid by nature. He believes that no one in this world can be bad. He takes every one at their face value and believes 'koi jhooth thodi bolega!' If faced with a contradiction between two people who claim other is a liar, he always believes that the elder of them must be telling the truth. Bhalu is a content, happy, smiling man and his world is centered around his family.

SUSHILA  POPAT   (Age:  48)

Bhalu's wife, mother of Jai and Hetal, and younger sister of Rasila. Feels grateful to Mansukh and Rasila to have cared for her simpleton husband for a life time. She remains a little in awe of them at all times.As a wife, she is content to have married a simple guy like Bhalu, who does not have any bad habits like gambling or smoking. As a mother, she is constantly worried about the marriage of her daughter Hetal. Shares a nice mother-son bond with Jai, she is proud of the fact that he is an obedient, loving man. She is assured completely that he is going to serve her well in her last days. This faith will make it impossible for Jai to ever think of leaving his family

KAIVALYA POPAT (Age:  30)
 
Elder son of Rasila and Mansukh, husband of Jyotika. Went to live at Mumbai, but got involved in some financial mess. He has returned back to live with his joint family, just before a month (from when the story starts). No one in the family knows the reason for return. He can even pull a fast one on his father, and that is why even the close family members think twice before trusting him. For example, while having the will done, he will advise his grandpa to make it in his name only .He has a flamboyant personality, loves branded clothes and accessories, spends a bomb on frivolous things, always gets into a tiff with his father about it

JYOTIKA POPAT (Age:  28)

She had a love marriage with Kaivalya, believing that he was very rich. She never made much name or money, and hence decided it was better to marry and retire, but she will always tell Kaivalya and the family that she left her career for marriage. She will tell tall stories of how she was on verge of fame and success. She Is an outgoing socialite, likes to visit all parties and host parties. Mansukh hates this trait, but the rest of the family is on her side, enjoys it, so he can't do anything much except crib about the expenses.

BAABLI POPAT (Age:  24)

Younger son of Rasila and Mansukh, brother of Kaivalya. He\\\'s not as cunning as the rest of the people on his side, invariably ends up goofing on all plans, his father and brother hate to include him in any discussions. But Rasila insists and so he has to be kept as a part of their team.He dreams of being an actor, and is constantly practising dance or mimicry for it, but it can be seen clearly that he is not good at it. He is completely mother's boy, will tug at her pallu or hide behind her at slightest sign of trouble. He is the youngest child in his generation and acts as if he has never grown up.

HETAL POPAT (Age:  27)

Daughter of Bhalu and Sushila, elder sister of Jai. She is a plain Jane, her mother has just taught her hard work and nothing else. She has studied in Gujarati medium, has an inferiority complex about her not being as bright as her cousins. She is a bright girl work-wise, a fabulous cook and house manager. Trusts all in this world, but Jai is her lifeline. There is deep attachment between the siblings.

JAI POPAT (Age:  25)

Bhalu and Sushila's son, Hetal's brother, is a handsome, happy, cheerful guy. Works hard in family business. He is punctual, very meticulous in his work and typically nice-natured. He plays tabla in spare time and goes to temple festivals. He is always worried about his father and sister, also shoulders responsibility of the family business. He feels that his family could get disrupted if he marries, so he has decided never to marry. Rasila and Mansukh are happy with the decision and encourage him. He is shy around women, even though he works in jewellery shop.  He  is not gullible, except with the people he trusts, so while any stranger cannot pull a fast one on him, if Kaivalya tells him that a certain scheme is good and he ought to invest family money in it, he will believe Kaivalya.

KRISHNA CHAUDAHRI - POPAT (Age:  23)

Elder daughter of Rao Bahadur Ajit Kumar Chaudhari. She is the pet of her Devraj mama, since he is a bachelor and has no children. He considers her to be his own kid, even intends to will his entire property to her. She is very beautiful and is a talented dancer. She has a strong sense of justice, believes 'zulm karna hi nahi, zulm sehna bhi paap hai' . In her village she can fight for water supply, she can take on the rogues teasing girls, she is fearless, even when she is put in danger. She has a noble heart, can make any sacrifice for the people she really loves.Her younger brother is her only Achilles' heel, he is devoted to her and she cannot live without him.She is worldly-wise, can deal with her detractors without ever being harsh with them. She can twist situations in her favour and get her wish done- almost always

YASHVI (Age:  7)

Only child of Kaivalya and Jyotika.Talks with her doll most of the times, as she is an only child and does not have any one else to play with. She specially enjoys tricking Bhalu e.g. if he is in two minds about giving up his concert ticket to her, she will say to him- ab yeh mat kehna ki agar maine yeh ticket nahi to aap apni saugandh denge!  And he will pick up that line and consider himself bright. She is the younger version of her mom, she also believes in looking tip-top always, can be brand conscious and even advise her mom correctly on what to wear, She is very particular to match her own outfits with shoes and matching handbags and hairpins.She can also take on her grandma. She loves to overhear what people are saying about each other and then leak it to others. She can be the pet of her great-grandfather and both can act childishly at times

GARGI (Age : 28 years)

Daughter of Mansukh and Rasila, wife of Gaurang. Believes that she is the centre of this universe and everything must revolve around her and demands complete attention of all whenever she is at home. She has had a love marriage with Gaurang whom she knew in college, but now she comes home almost every alternate day with complaints that he is fighting with her due to business tensions and her monster of a mother-in-law is making her life miserable. She always advises Hetal not to marry and tells Jyotika that she is lucky to have a nice mother-in-law like Rasila.Gargi is the pet of her father, gets along moderately well with others but has an aversion to her bhabhi Jyotika

GAURANG (Age : 30 years)

Gargi's husband, the only Daamad of Popat family. He expects to be treated well whenever he is at the Popat home. He is very blunt/rude in his talks, therefore even the family is always on its guard against him.Though he is apparently always fighting with his wife, their well-preserved secret is that these mock-fights are always staged to extort money or help in one form or another from both sides of their family. For example-  both will have a fight and then Gargi will suggest that may be a trip to Shimla will help them patch up again, so the family will provide the finance for that. He has no qualms about breaking laws : drinking in spite of prohibition law in Gujarat or driving car through a  one-way, and if ever he is caught, he can easily shift blame to anyone around him, which usually turns out be one of his in-laws. He can be very competitive in all matters, right from having a bigger car to who can eat more at festive family gatherings and can always needle Baabli.

JASHODA FAI (Age : 70 years)

Ambalal's sister, lives very near by. Her husband is retired, children settled in US, so she is here most of the times and acts as de facto mother-in-law for Rasila and Sushila. She is affectionate and practical, but bulldozes over people with her own belief. She can be quite blunt in talking -  if any one bows to her, instead of giving ashirwaad, the first thing she will say is : " Arre, theek se pair chhu... kamar mein dard hai kya?! .... She is good at heart but very orthodox.She is never able to distinguish between bhola and chunt family and will treat both equally.

BAARKYA ( 28 yrs)

The family's full time servant, almost a part of the family. Why Baarkya has chosen to work with the Popats is a mystery. He is here from three years, on the pretext of paying of Mansukh's  five thousand which he has borrowed at that time. But by now, it has reached up to thirty five thousand. Others have noticed thick gold rings in his hand, indicating that he could have paid off Mansukh right then. Mansukh does not want him questioned because he works almost free. If in any month, his debt seems to reduce, Mansukh will break something on his own to add to Baarkya's existing debt.

Ambalal is always suspicious of his motives, as Baarkya seems to be hovering around his room all the time. He says it is only to serve,  feels it could even be to murder him.He is very nice with Bhola family, but at the same time, is wise enough to save his skin from 'chunt' family. Baarkya calls up his family at night and talks in Marathi, which the family can never understand.

SHEVANTA BAI

She is Baarkya's love interest and the maid of the next door neighbour. Their love story continues, they see a lot of dreams about their life after marriage, but cannot marry due to opposition from Shevanta Bai's family in some remote village. Other times she is waiting for her father to return from his job in gulf, which is taking forever. Shevanta Bai believes in treating her mistress like her naukrani, can also teach Baarkya to throw tantrums.

PRANLAL (Age : 70 years)