Lean in together

Amruta Subhash in the series

For the better part of the aughts, Indian television churned out saas-bahu dramas where the domineering mother-in-law was the arch villain of the holier-than-thou bahu. But as the years have passed, the role of women has changed. It isn't surprising then that Amruta Subhash is offering a new take on the saas-bahu dynamics with the series, Saas Bahu Achaar Pvt Ltd. She plays the middle-aged Suman who, compelled by circumstances, has to become the breadwinner of the family, and discovers her innate entrepreneurial spirit when she begins her pickle business. Cheering her on is her mother-in-law, essayed by Yamini Das.

The ZEE5 offering comes from a deeply personal space for creator Arunabh Kumar. He says the show - which celebrates women's resilient and independent spirit - is influenced by the hardships faced by his mother. "I have closely seen the struggles of my mother, who ran a high school in a village in Bihar, and worked with self-employed women from Tier-II and III towns. This became my personal motivation to tell this story," he says.

The TVF team began developing the material a year ago, before taking the Annup Sonii and Anjana Sukhani-starrer on floors in Delhi late last year. Director Apoorv Singh Karki, who struck gold with Aspirants (2021), has taken the responsibility of showcasing an unlikely hero. "It's a story of how everyday women like Suman are rising professionally, and holding their own in the world of business," he says. Nimisha Pandey, chief content officer, Hindi originals, ZEE5, adds that she greenlit the series as it offered a refreshing take on age-old relationships and "embraced flawed women characters."