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Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon

Overview

Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon (English: What Should I Name This Love?) is an Indian Hindi-language romantic drama television series that aired on STAR Plus from 6 June 2011 to 30 November 2012. Produced by 4 Lions Films, the production house owned by Gul Khan, the show became one of the most popular romantic dramas of its era and is widely credited with launching its lead pair, Barun Sobti and Sanaya Irani, into mainstream television stardom.

Key Facts

Title Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon
Genre Romantic drama
Original network STAR Plus
Original run 6 June 2011 – 30 November 2012
Language Hindi
Production company 4 Lions Films
Producer Gul Khan
Lead actors Barun Sobti, Sanaya Irani
Country of origin India

Plot

The series revolves around Arnav Singh Raizada, a wealthy, hot-tempered businessman based in Delhi, and Khushi Kumari Gupta, a cheerful, middle-class young woman from Lucknow who has moved to Delhi with her family. The narrative explores the contrast between Arnav's cynicism and Khushi's optimism, charting their journey from antagonism to love through misunderstandings, family conflicts, a contract marriage, and eventual reconciliation. The story foregrounds the clash of values between traditional middle-class North Indian sensibilities and modern urban affluence.

Cast

  • Barun Sobti as Arnav Singh Raizada
  • Sanaya Irani as Khushi Kumari Gupta Raizada
  • Daljeet Kaur as Garima Gupta
  • Utkarsha Naik as Manorama "Manu" Singh Raizada
  • Akshay Dogra as Akash Singh Raizada
  • Deepali Pansare and later Shilpa Raizada as Payal Gupta
  • Abhaas Mehta as Shyam Manohar Jha
  • Amit Tandon as Aakash's friend / Sheetal's husband (later track)

Production

The series was developed by 4 Lions Films, founded by writer-producer Gul Khan, who has been associated with several romantic dramas on STAR Plus. The show was directed by Aniruddha Rajderkar among others. While the storyline was set in Delhi and drew on the cultural milieu of Lucknow, principal shooting was carried out in Mumbai. The title track was sung by Shreya Ghoshal, and the romantic theme music became one of the show's signature elements.

Broadcast and timeline

  • 2011: The series premiered on 6 June 2011 on STAR Plus in the prime-time slot.
  • 2011–2012: Built a strong domestic and overseas viewership, especially among young viewers and the South Asian diaspora.
  • 2012: Concluded on 30 November 2012, with the final episode wrapping up the central romantic arc.
  • Reruns: The show was re-telecast on STAR Utsav and made available on the streaming platform Disney+ Hotstar (now JioHotstar).

Reception and significance

The show was a commercial and critical success, consistently featuring among the top-rated Hindi general entertainment programmes during its run. It is regarded as a landmark in 2010s Indian television romance for its restrained portrayal of the male lead, its use of long romantic silences and music-driven sequences, and its strong focus on character chemistry rather than melodramatic plot devices common in the genre.

Barun Sobti's portrayal of Arnav Singh Raizada is frequently cited as one of the most popular male television characters of the 2010s in India, and the pairing of Sobti and Irani drew a substantial international fanbase, particularly across South Asia, the Middle East, and among Hindi-speaking audiences in Europe and North America.

Awards

The series and its lead actors received nominations and wins at industry awards including the Indian Telly Awards, Star Parivaar Awards, and BIG Star Entertainment Awards. Barun Sobti won the Indian Telly Award for Best Actor in a Lead Role (Popular) for his performance, and Sanaya Irani received recognition in the Best Actress (Popular) category at multiple ceremonies.

  • Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon... Ek Baar Phir (2014): A spiritual successor on STAR Plus starring Avinash Sachdev and Shrenu Parikh, with a new storyline.
  • Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon 3 (2017): Aired on STAR Plus, featuring Barun Sobti in a new role alongside Shivani Tomar.
  • Adaptations: The series was dubbed and remade in several languages, including a Tamil adaptation. It was also dubbed for international markets.

Cultural impact

The show contributed to a wider trend in Hindi general entertainment of focusing on younger romantic leads and contemporary urban settings, moving away from the saas-bahu family sagas that had dominated the previous decade. It is often discussed in studies of Indian television romance alongside contemporaries such as Geet – Hui Sabse Parayi and Madhubala – Ek Ishq Ek Junoon.

References

  • STAR Plus official programme listings and press releases.
  • Archived coverage from The Times of India, The Indian Express, and Hindustan Times television sections (2011–2012).
  • Indian Telly Awards and Star Parivaar Awards announcements (2011–2013).
  • Disney+ Hotstar / JioHotstar series archive.