Tulsi, Mihir "win hearts" in Afghanistan

New Delhi, Apr 30 (UNI) Tulsi, Mihir and Parvati, the characters of popular Indian television serials 'Kyunki Saas bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi' and 'Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki', are today household names in the neighbouring Afghanistan, with their popularity in the country even surpassing that of Bollywood stars like Madhuri Dixit and Preity Zinta.

'Zamane Khushu Hum Arush Bood', the Dari version of Balaji telefilms' signature show 'Kyunki Saas bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi' has got the people of Afghanistan "eating out of Tulsi's hands", trade sources said.

Being produced for Tolo TV by Abdulhai Abir, an former-narrator of Hindi films for the National Channel of the country, and beamed across Afghanistan's terrestrial network seven days a week three times a day, the programme has struck a chord across all age groups and genders with its Indian virtues of long suffering patience in the face of family plots.

Among the most avid audiences of the show are middle aged men who are really touched by the love and respect given by Tulsi to her elders, something they feel is a good example to the Afghan society.

Says Abir, who put together a team of 12 young men and women who have dubbed 80 episodes of 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi',''the huge popularity of the series in the country is perhaps because culturally, the situation portrayed in the serial is similar to what all of us face in Afghanistan. Yahan Bhi Saas hai, bahu hai, unke masle Hain (here also there are matters related to mothers-in-law and daughters-in law).

''Men also have to bear the impact of these situations and these serials help them find solutions to their household problems.'' Posters of Tulsi and Parvati today adorn the backs of buses and shop fronts, spaces previously occupied by posters of Bollywood diva Madhuri Dixit and Preity Zinta.

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