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Hasratein

Indian TV series or programme

Hasratein (transl. Desires) is an Indian Hindi-language soap opera that originally aired on Zee TV in the mid-1990s. Directed by Ajai Sinha and produced by Sangeeta Sinha and Raakesh Shah, the show was based on the Marathi novel Adhantari by Jaywant Dalvi. The series is currently available for streaming on ZEE5.

The drama became notable for its bold depiction of extra-marital relationships and women’s agency, centering on the character of Savi who leaves her husband to live with another married man while both their spouses are aware of the situation. Its success made it one of the most talked-about Indian television dramas of the decade, sparking discussions on marital discord and the evolving roles of women in Indian society.

01Plot

Hasratein focuses on the complexities of extra-marital relationships. One of the main storylines follows Savi, a woman who leaves her husband and maintains a relationship with another married man, with both their spouses being aware of the situation. Her actions are partly shaped by her childhood, when her mother left her father for another man. The show emphasizes the societal strain placed on marriages in Indian culture, especially the roles expected of women and the dissatisfaction sometimes felt by men.

02Production

Hasratein was one of the most popular television shows of the mid and late 1990s. According to critic Shubhra Gupta, the serial’s popularity "had made it a catalyst for the discussion of issues of marital discord, in spite of the embarrassment the serial generated for many people."

Seema Kapoor played the character of Savi for the first 125 episodes. She was later replaced by Shefali Chhaya (now Shefali Shah), whose performance earned her the Zee Woman of the Year award in 1997.

03Cast

Watch videos about HasrateinExplainers and documentaries on YouTube (opens in a new tab)

Sources and credits

This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article Hasratein, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.

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