Set on the backdrop of Pushkar, Rajasthan, Diya Aur Baati Hum focused on breaking the stereotypical image of women in rural India by showing the inspirational journey of Sandhya Rathi, whose ambition is to become an IPS officer. She achieves her goal with the help of her husband, Sooraj, by going against all odds.[6]
Ambitious and educated, Sandhya Kothari aspires to fulfill her dream of being an IPS officer for her father Arvind. Sooraj Rathi, a partially-educated and simple young master-confectioner is the perfect elder heir to his middle-class traditional family in Pushkar, Rajasthan. Later, Sandhya is shattered as her parents die in a terrorist attack. Her brother Ankur fixes her marriage to Sooraj whose strict mother, Santoshi, wants a simple and uneducated daughter-in-law, with the excellent skills of a housewife. So, Ankur lies about Sandhya's education level.
Giving up her education and dreams, Sandhya marries Sooraj. Soon as her truth of being educated and not knowing cooking is revealed, Santosh banishes her. Sooraj stands up for and vows to help Sandhya in becoming the daughter-in-law Santosh wants. After helping Sandhya complete studies, Sooraj convinces Santosh to accept her dreams. Sandhya faces challenges in IPS Academy, establishing as an extraordinary police officer. She fights terrorist leader Raj Kumar, and struggles to balance between her professional duties and domestic responsibilities.
Together with Sooraj, Sandhya forms a relationship with underlying love. She donates one of her kidneys to Santosh battling for life, a fact which the family later learns. Ankur's daughter Bulbul greatly eagers for a sibling but his wife Ankita miscarries and is unable to conceive again. Sandhya, expecting twins, decides to give their one twin to Ankita. Eventually, she delivers twin sons Ved and Vansh who get kidnapped. In the rescue, Ved is saved and the unfound Vansh is presumed dead, shattering all. A police officer saves and returns Vansh though promptly.
7 years later
Sandhya, Sooraj and Ved live happily. They find out Vansh never died and was adopted by Ankur, who planned the past things to keep Vansh with them. As Sooraj dreams of opening a big hotel and works for it with Sandhya, she is appointed for an extremely perilous mission Mahabhali, to defeat a dangerous terrorist in his territory in West Bengal, faking her identity as Sagarika. Sandhya leaves and enacts to be presumed dead in a train accident. Sooraj loses his dreams and mental stability due to this shock. Owing to his condition, Santosh starts hating Sandhya.
Santosh wants Sooraj to marry Laalima Agarwal, who she believes will be able to help him recover. Sandhya battles with the difficulties of Mahabhali and finally sabotages their plan, but her identity is exposed. The terrorists capture and almost torture her to death. Sooraj finds out Sandhya is alive, and joins her on the mission to help. They complete the mission and return home. Santosh refuses to forgive Sandhya. Laalima falls in love with Sooraj.
But, Sooraj and Sandhya's love wins and Santosh forgives her as Laalima gives up. Later, Sooraj's youngest brother Mohit is shot to death after attempting to molest Laalima by Santoshi. With the help of women's rights activists, Sandhya bails her out.
Santhosh hates Pakistan because of a tragic accident on the border which took her younger brother's life when they were children. Not knowing Arzoo is from Pakistan, she fixes her alliance with Aryan. At first, Sandhya suspects Arzoo of being a terrorist.
Later, Sandhya not only saves Arzoo from the terrible misunderstanding but also helps her get accepted by Santosh. Sooraj meets with an accident and gets stuck in a wheelchair. Sandhya decides to run his confectionery shop by leaving her job, much to Sooraj, and the family's displeasure.
As Sandhya delivers a daughter named Kanak, Sooraj overcomes his disability and is able to walk to run his shop. Sandhya gets a proposal from commissioner and joins the police again before meeting IPS Arpita Khanna, who considers Sandhya as her rival at first but later becomes among her best allies.
Soon, Vansh discovers the truth about his birth parents but hates them for giving him away. Four terrorists kill Ankur and Ankita and also take the residents of the Rathis' neighborhood hostage, including them. Sandhya and Sooraj bravely rescue the civilians.
Upon seeing his parents' selflessness and courage, Vansh forgives them and the family is reunited, but not for long. Sandhya and Sooraj unsuccessfully try a trap for the terrorists and punish them. The leader kidnaps Kanak and makes Sandhya and Sooraj eat bomb pills.
Sandhya and Sooraj bid their farewell to family and others by jumping into the river before exploding. Sandhya's mangal sutra and Sooraj's chain becomes entangled in the water before the setting Sun, highlighting that even death cannot separate them.
Cast
Main
Deepika Singh as IPS Sandhya Kothari Rathi: Arvind and Kanchan's daughter; Ankur's sister; Sooraj's wife; Ved, Vansh and Kanak's mother (2011–2016) (Dead)
Anas Rashid as Sooraj Rathi: Arun and Santosh's eldest son; Vikram, Mohit and Chavvi's brother; Om's cousin; Sandhya's husband; Ved, Vansh and Kanak's father (2011–2016) (Dead)
Recurring
Neelu Vaghela as Santosh "Bhaboo" Rathi: Arun's wife; Sooraj, Vikram, Mohit and Chhavi's mother; Mishri, Pari, Golu, Ved, Vansh and Kanak's grandmother. (2011–2016)
Ashok Lokhande as Arun "Bhabasa" Rathi: Santosh's husband; Sooraj, Vikram, Mohit and Chhavi's father; Mishri, Pari, Golu, Ved, Vansh and Kanak's grandfather (2011–2016)
Rakesh Kukreti as Arvind Kothari: Kanchan's husband; Ankur and Sandhya's father; Bulbul, Ved, Vansh and Kanak's grandfather (2011) (Dead)
Surbhi Tiwari as Kanchan Kothari: Arvind's wife; Ankur and Sandhya's mother; Bulbul, Ved, Vansh and Kanak's grandmother (2011) (Dead)
Devyansh Tapuriah as Ved Rathi: Sooraj and Sandhya's elder son; Vansh and Kanak's brother; Bulbul, Mishri, Pari, Golu and Sparsh's cousin (2015–2016)[8]
Ricky Patel as Vansh Rathi: Sooraj and Sandhya's younger son; Ankur and Ankita's foster son; Ved and Kanak's brother; Bulbul, Mishri, Pari, Golu and Sparsh's cousin (2015–2016)
Kiara Bhatt as Kanak Rathi: Sooraj and Sandhya's daughter; Ved and Vansh's sister; Bulbul, Mishri, Pari, Golu and Sparsh's cousin (2016)
Gautam Gulati / Abeer Singh Godhwani as Vikram Rathi: Santosh and Arun's second son; Sooraj, Mohit and Chhavi's brother; Om's cousin; Meenakshi's husband; Mishri and Golu's father (2011–2016)
Kanika Maheshwari as Meenakshi "Meena" Rathi: Uma's daughter; Sudha's sister; Vikram's wife; Mishri and Golu's mother. (2011–2016)
Reem Sheikh as Mishri Rathi: Vikram and Meenakshi's daughter; Golu's sister; Pari, Ved, Vansh, Sparsh and Kanak's cousin. (2015–2016)
Sadhil Kapoor / Kiran Mohnani as Golu Rathi: Vikram and Meenakshi's son; Mishri's brother; Pari, Ved, Vansh, Sparsh and Kanak's cousin. (2015–2016)
Varun Jain as Mohit Rathi: Santosh and Arun's youngest son; Sooraj, Vikram and Chhavi's brother; Om's cousin; Emily's first husband; Pari's father (2011–2015) (Dead)
Pooja Singh as Emily D'Souza Rathi: David and Angela's daughter; Mark's sister; Mohit's widow; Om's wife; Pari's mother; Sparsh's step-mother (2013–2016)
Drisha Kalyani as Pari Rathi: Emily and Mohit's daughter; Om's step-daughter; Sparsh's step-sister; Mishri, Golu, Ved, Vansh and Kanak's cousin (2015–2016)
Abhinav Shukla as Om Rathi: Sooraj, Vikram, Mohit and Chhavi's cousin; Poorvi's ex-husband; Emily's husband; Sparsh's father; Pari's step-father (2016)
Pooja Sharma as Poorvi Rathi: Om's ex-wife; Sparsh's mother.(2016)
Advait Adi as Sparsh Rathi: Om and Poorvi's son; Emily's step-son; Pari's step-brother; Mishri, Golu, Ved, Vansh and Kanak's cousin (2016)
Sehrish Ali as Chhavi Rathi: Santosh and Arun's daughter; Sooraj, Vikram, Mohit's sister; Om's cousin; Dilip's ex-wife (2011–2016)
Randeep Rai / Kunal Khosla as Aryan "Chotu" Rathi: Rathis' adopted son; Arzoo's husband (2015–2016)
Aryan Sharma as Teenage Aryan "Chotu" Rathi (2011–2015)
Prachi Tehlan as Arzoo Rathi: Resham's granddaughter; Aryan's wife (2016)
Abhijeet Sooryvanshe as Ashutosh Aggrawal: Sandhya's contestant (2013)
Rashmi Pitre as Chaturi: Rathi family's household help (2011–2014; 2016)
Ragini Shah as Mrs. Rathi (Maa Sa): Dado Sa's wife; Arun's aunt; Sooraj, Vikram, Om, Mohit and Chhavi's grandmother; Mishri, Pari, Golu, Ved, Vansh, Sparsh and Kanak's great-grandmother (2012; 2013–2016)
Deepak Gheewala as Mr. Rathi (Dado Sa): Maa Sa's husband; Arun's uncle; Sooraj, Vikram, Om, Mohit and Chhavi's grandfather; Mishri, Pari, Golu, Ved, Vansh, Sparsh and Kanak's great-grandfather (2012–2013)
Varun Khandelwal as Ankur Kothari: Kanchan and Arvind's son; Sandhya's brother; Ankita's husband; Bulbul's father; Vansh's foster father (2011–2016) (Dead)
20 years back I read a story in a newspaper that talked about a common man – a panipuri seller helping his wife become a civil servant. I just based my show Diya Aur Baati Hum on this incident, which was still afresh in my memory.
Speaking about the series before its premiere, Nitin Vaidya, the Business Head of StarPlus then said, "It's undeniable that in India, traditionally the women's role is seen as bride, wife or mother, within the geographical parameters of her home. This show aims at breaking that mold and raising public acceptance of women stepping out of their homes towards self-fulfillment. Diya Aur Bati Hum is another testimony of Star Plus' programming ethos – 'Rishta Wahi, Soch Nayi (Same relationship, different thinking)'."[18]
On 8 January 2013, the cast and crew went to Ajmer for shooting a sequence, expected to return to Mumbai on 11 January 2013. However, with the overcrowding of the fans of the series, they could not properly shoot within the estimated time, sometimes being a halt for a while owing to the rush of people there.[19]
In December 2014, the shoot was disrupted when an air cooler in the sets burst and two technicians were injured.[20] In the same month, it was announced that Bollywood singers Javed Ali and Shilpa Rao would record a song for an upcoming sequence.[21]
In September 2015, for the track of Mission Mahabali, six sets of each dress were made for the cast during the outdoor shoot owing unpredictable weather change and rains.[22]
Casting
Gautam Gulati quit the series in September 2014 for participating in Bigg Boss 8 and was replaced by Karan Goddwani as Vikram.[23] In December 2014, Neelu Vaghela playing Santosh decided quit the series owing health issues and her death sequence was also shot.[24] But the popular demand from both viewers and channel made her to continue and the track was altered.[25] In the same month, Shubha Uplopwar replaced Urmila Nimbalkar as Ankita.[26]
In May 2015, Jimmy Shergill was in talks for the role of the Kabaddi coach.[27] But, Shahbaz Khan was confirmed. However, Rituraj Singh got the role due to the creative differences with Khan.[28] In April 2015, Randeep Rai, who was cast for the role Adult Chotu, quit the series in few months and was replaced by Kunal Khosla in January 2016.[29][30] In November 2015, Varun Jain playing Mohit wished to opt out of the series unhappy with his role shaping up and thus his character was killed in the series.[31][32]
Cancellation and future
Due to its fluctuating ratings, it was reported to go off air on 15 August 2016.[33] But, it received an extension for about a month and ended on 10 September 2016.[34] However, before the series was about to end, it was reported to come back with a sequel series owing its popularity.[35] Within seven months, the sequel titled as Tu Sooraj Main Saanjh, Piyaji premiered and aired from 3 April 2017 to 1 June 2018 for 365 episodes.[36]
Filming
The series is based on the backdrop of Pushkar, Rajasthan.[37][38] The series is mainly filmed on the sets created in Mira road, Mumbai.[39][40] Some of the scenes were filmed in Rajasthan including Pushkar, Ajmer and Bikaner.[41] The final scene of the series was filmed in Udaipur.[42] In June 2012, the sequence of lead character Sooraj's cooking competition was filmed in Singapore for 10 days.[43] For that, the upcoming episodes were shot well in advance before going there such that shooting did not happen for 12 days after it in India.[44]
From December 2013 for a few months, the main IPS training sequence of lead character Sandhya was shot at Haryana Police Commando Complex in Newal, Karnal and the initial promo of the sequence being shot in a ground at Matunga.[45][46][40] During which, in April 2014 the sequence of a training in Jungle was shot at Ghodbunder road, Thane, Maharashtra.[47]
In March 2015, the storyline took a five years leap.[48] Soon, in the same year, in July, it took a three years leap.[49]
In 2016, the sequences of the character Arzoo in Pakistan was shot at Bhopal which was shown in the series as Pakistan.[50]
Singh and Rashid continuously ran for about 12 hours for filming the last sequence for 2 days.[51]
The Indian Express rated two and a half stars and stated, "The lead actors are impressive. Anas Rashid as maa ka laadla (mother's favorite) Sooraj is likable and Deepika Singh as Sandhya is raw but earnest."[56]
Ratings
India
Diya Aur Baati Hum maintained its number one position mostly on the ratings charts from the beginning till it completed 1000 episodes.[57][58] It became the no 1 show in India with 14.5 TVM (Television Viewership in Millions), considered to be extremely good at that time.[59] It also became the only fiction show to have a rating of 6.6 on a Saturday.[60] Diya Aur Baati Hum is also known as one of the most popular Indian teledrama for Star Plus.[61]
The series opened with a low rating of 1.9 TVR in its debut week, but however soon increased and entered top ten Hindi GECs.[62] In week 33 of 2011, it garnered 3.81 TVR being seventh most watched Hindi GEC while the following week, it was the tenth most watched Hindi GEC with 3.11 TVR.[63][64] In week 42, it was at tenth position garnering 3.65 TVR.[65] In week 50 and 51, it became the second most watched Hindi GEC after Saath Nibhana Saathiya garnering 5.7 and 5.87 TVR.[66][67]
In first week of 2012, it garnered 5.98 TVR.[68] On week ending 21 January 2012, it garnered 5.88 TVR being most watched Hindi GEC.[69] In week ending 2 May 2012 and the following week it maintained its top position with 5 and 4.7 TVR.[70] In May 2012, during the ongoing IPL broadcast during prime time remained the most watched television program. After three weeks of its premiere being most watched programme, in Week 17 2012, Dance India Dance along with Diya Aur Baati Hum beat them scoring 4.5 and 4.48 TVR for position number one and two being the only two GECs to top the list.[71] In week 22 during IPL finale, it was the most watched Hindi GEC with 5.1 TVR.[72] During 15 to 21 July 2012 and previous week, it maintained its top position with 5.8 and 5.9 TVR.[73] During 1 to 15 August 2012, it maintained its top position with 5.8 TVR.[74] In week 51, it was at second position with 4.8 TVR.[75] In the year, the track of Sooraj's international cooking competition topped the Hindi GEC ratings list while the following track of terrorist Rajkumar reached a 6.9 TVR.[76][77]
In week 5 of 2013, it was the most watched Hindi GEC with 4.3 TVR while it was pushed to second by Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke garnering 4.2 TVR.[78] In week 9, it was in the top spot with 7.1 TVR.[79] The following week it maintained its position with 5.7 TVR.[80] In week 16 and 17 it maintained its top position with 3.7 and 4 TVR.[81] In week 23, it once again was at the top with a trp of 3.7.[82] In first week of August, it was the top rated with 4.5 TVR.[83] During week 30 and 31 of 2013, it maintained its top position garnering 9.1 and 10.3 million viewership.[84] In week 48 of 2013 it was the most watched Hindi GEC with 11.4 million TVTs.[85] Overall, It secured number one among the top ten shows in India of 2013, with an average viewership of 9.3 million and a peak viewership of 12.3 million in October 2013.[86] In week 47, it remained the top rated with more than about 12 million impressions.[87][88]
In first week of 2014, it was at the top position with 6 TVR.[89] In week 3, it maintained its position with 6.4 TVR.[90] In week 5 also it was at top with 5.7 TVR.[91] The series had a tough fight with Kumkum Bhagya for the top spot which aired at the rival channel Zee TV during same time slot after it premiered in April 2014.[92] When Kumkum Bhagya premiered, Diya Aur Baati Hum, the top show in its time slot saw a decrease of 22% of its viewership in that week, after which Kumkum's viewership started increasing gradually and soon beat Diya Aur Baati Hum for number one pushing it to second.[93] Since then, both had a tough fight for number one position for a long time alternatively. In week 27 of 2014, it shared the top spot with Saath Nibhana Saathiya garnering 4.4 TVR.[94] In week ending 23 August 2014, it had 7.3 million viewership occupying fourth position while the previous week it was at top position with 7.6 million.[95] In third week of September 2014, it was at top with 3.8 TVR.[96] In second week of November 2014, it maintained its top position with 5.5 TVR.[97] In week 52, it continued to maintain its top position.[98] Overall, In 2014, it maintained its position in top three most watched Hindi shows.[99]
In January 2015, it remained the most watched Hindi show followed by Kumkum Bhagya.[100] In first two weeks of May 2015, it dropped to tenth position garnering 4 and 4.1 TVR.[101] In week 40 of 2015, it was at top position with 4.31 TVR.[102] In week 42 of 2015, Diya Aur Baati Hum was at fourth position with a TRP of 3.[103]
In week 11 of 2016, it garnered a trp of 2.3 while the following week, it occupied seventh position garnering a trp of 2.6.[104][105] In week 14, it garnered a trp of 2 slipping down to seventh position.[106] In first week of June 2016, it garnered 1.6 trp moving out of top ten.[107] However, it was ended by the channel in September 2016 due to its decreased ratings since past few months.[108]
UK
In UK, Diya Aur Baati Hum was consistently one of the most watched top Indian television show with more than 200 K viewership.[109] It garnered its first peak rating of 315.100 K viewership in October 2013 and got a record viewership of 383,700 viewers in April 2014.[109][110]
Impact
The story is based on a fictional family in Pushkar of Rajasthan who lives in the fictional street named Hanuman Gali. Owing to Diya Aur Baati Hum's huge popularity, Municipal Corporation and Government of Rajasthan renamed a lane in Pushkar as Hanuman Gali.[111] The event was attended by the cast and crew which was held during December 2015.[112] Speaking about it actress Neelu Vaghela who played Santosh said, "Apparently, the show has a great viewership and tourists who visited Pushkar often used to go searching for Hanuman Galli and ask for Sooraj and his jalebi shop. Since this has led to increasing in tourists, I guess the ministry must have come up with this plan. We are excited and the whole team will be going for this event."[113] Lead Deepika Singh stated, "There was a day when I had to run through all the streets in Pushkar for the opening scene of the show. Nobody did recognize me then. But now, as I stood at the same place, the whole crowd present over there was cheering for me and their reactions made me feel so special,"[112]
The poster of the series and the main leads are found in the shops in the areas of Pushkar and Jaipur owing its popularity.[114]
Owing its popularity, the creators of the show launched a sequel series named Tu Sooraj Main Saanjh, Piyaji with the leads Anas Rashid and Deepika Singh not being part of it.[117] It starred Rhea Sharma as Kanak, the grown up daughter of Sooraj and Sandhya and Avinesh Rekhi as Uma Shankar.[118] It began airing from 3 April 2017 and ended on 1 June 2018 completing 365 episodes.[119]
