Indian television drama

Not to be confused with Bollywood.

Indian television dramas, also known as Indian series or Indian serials, are scripted television programmes produced in India and featuring Indian actors. These dramas are broadcast on various Indian television networks.

India's first television drama, Hum Log (Hindi), aired from 1984 to 1985 and consisted of 154 episodes. Ekta Kapoor's Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi (2000–2008) became the first Indian television drama to surpass 1,000 episodes, completing 1,833 episodes and earning a place in the Limca Book of Records. The Marathi series Char Divas Sasuche (2001–2013) reached 3,200 episodes, becoming the first Indian television series to exceed 3,000 episodes, also entering the Limca Book of Records. The Telugu serial Abhishekam (2008–2022) was the first Indian show to reach 4,000 episodes, concluding on 1 February 2022. The Hindi series Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai (2009–present), with over 5,000 episodes as of December, 2025, is India's longest-running Hindi television drama and soap opera, having aired for 16 years and is the first to reach that mark

Indian television dramas are produced in most major languages spoken across the country, often blending the regional language with English. These shows are also broadcast in several other regions, including South Asia, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North America, Latin America, and parts of Africa.

By the late 2010s, the popularity of daytime and afternoon dramas had declined, and mainstream channels ceased broadcasting such programmes. However, in 2017, television networks attempted to regain viewership by reintroducing shows in the afternoon and daytime slots. Currently, the major Indian television networks with nationwide prime-time dramas include JioStar, Zee, Sun TV, and ETV.

Hum Log was India's first television drama, airing from 1984 to 1985 with a total of 154 episodes. At the time, it was the longest-running serial in Indian television history. The show attracted approximately 60 million viewers, with each episode lasting about 25 minutes, except for the final episode, which was approximately 55 minutes long.

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