With the rapid growth of television networks, viewership has increased manifold. This has given rise to a number of daily soaps, 'serials' as we call them. They revolve around various themes, like love, family and marriage. They often touch upon various women's issues. From teenagers to grandmothers, the entertaining story-lines of these serials have got the audience hooked on to them. Watching them have become a part of our daily lives.

The bahu in more serials, be it Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi or Madhubala, are one dimensional- soft spoken, obedient, submissive. They take care of their parents, in-laws, husband and put everyone else before their own desires and needs. They religiously adorn the symbols of marriage- bindi, sari, chudi, mangalsootra and sindoor.
A good woman, according to Indian serials, is an ideal homemaker. Her world revolves around her family and her home. Her family's/husband's opinion becomes her opinion.

A perfect example of this stereotypical bahu is our 'Gopi' from Saath Nibhaana Saathiya. She is a devoted wife and bahu because she is shy, pious, illiterate, sweet and only wear saris. Her 'saasu maa', Kokila, finds in her a perfect match for her son Ahem, another mumma’s boy from our daily soaps.