Buniyaad () is an Indian television soap opera directed by Ramesh Sippy and Jyoti Sarup. The series was written by Manohar Shyam Joshi and dealt with the Partition of India in 1947 and its aftermath. It was first aired in 1986 on the Indian state television channel DD National. It was re-aired on Sahara One in 2006 and on DD National and DD Retro during COVID-19 lockdown in India. The story spans the life in India between 1915 and 1985.
Plot Buniyaad is an Indian television drama that follows the lives of Master Haveliram Khanna, a principled schoolteacher in Lahore, and his wife Lajwanti (Lajjo), against the backdrop of the Partition of India in 1947. Beginning in pre-Partition Lahore, the series explores the relationships within the extended Khanna family before chronicling their forced migration to Delhi as refugees. As they rebuild their lives, the story examines the emotional, social, and economic consequences of displacement across several decades. Through the experiences of different generations of the Khanna family, Buniyaad portrays themes of loss, resilience, identity, changing family values, and the lasting legacy of Partition. Widely regarded as one of Indian television’s landmark historical dramas, the series combines personal stories with the broader history of one of the largest migrations in modern history.
Cast Actor/Actress Character NotesSudhir PandeyLala GaindamalHaveliram's fatherAsha SharmaJanko (Chachi Ji)Haveliram's motherRajesh PuriMunshi KhajanchandGaindamal's accountant (Munshi)Bharti Achrekar Rampyari Fruit-seller Rampyara's wife and Gaindamal's family acquaintanceMeher Mittal Rampyara Fruit-seller Rampyari's husband and Gaindamal's family acquaintanceGirija ShankarRaliyaramHaveliram's elder brother and Shanno's husbandAsha SachdevShannoGaindamal's elder daughter-in-lawMangal DhillonLabhayaramRaliyaram's sonPallavi JoshiRanoLabhayaram's wifeNeesha SinghKanniLabhaya's niece and Pasho's daughterGayathri BurmanPashoRaliyaram's only surviving daughterAnjan Srivastav Lala Dharamchand Rano's GrandfatherAlok NathMaster Haveliram A freedom fighter and patriotAnita KanwarLajjo (Lajwanti)Haveliram's wifeGoga Kapoor Bhai AatmaramLajwanti's uncle, Haveliram's mentor and fellow freedom fighter Dalip TahilBhushan (Kulbhushan)Haveliram's elder sonSoni RazdanLochan (Sulochana)Haveliram's elder daughter-in-law and Bhushan's wife Rajan HaksarDaddy Ji: Rai Bahadur Mewa LalLochan's Father and Bhushan's Father-in-lawSarita SethiMummy Ji: Mohini MarasanLochan's mother and Bhushan's mother-in-lawSuresh Chatwal Girdharilal Lochan's stepbrotherArun BakshiKanwarPlay director and Lochan's love interestShernaz PatelKukkiKulbhushan's elder daughterMazhar KhanRoshan (Roshanlal)Haveliram's younger sonNeena GuptaRajjoRoshan's wifeLeela MishraChachiRajjo's aunt and flat-ownerNatasha SinhaNivedita Sengupta Roshan's first employer and love interestJayshree AroraMrs. Sengupta Nivedita's MotherKiran JunejaVeeravali in Lahore/ Pragyavati in UttarkashiHaveliram's sisterSudhir DalviGuruji at Pragyavati's Uttarkashi ashramVijayendra GhatgeLala VrishbhanVeeravali's love interest, Satbir's and Jay's biological fatherAnjana MumtazSubhadraVrishbhan's wife and Jay's motherKanwaljit SinghSatbirVeeravali and Vrishbhan's illegitimate son, Haveliram and Lajjo's adopted sonAbhinav ChaturvediJay Bhushan (Jay)Vrishbhan's legitimate son, Kaka's biological fatherKrutika Desai KhanManglaJay's wife and Satbir's lifelong love interestKamia MalhotraKanta Suri (Babli) in Sheikhupura -Delhi Jay's secretary and love interest, Kaka's biological motherAntariksh MathurKakaSatbir's adopted son, Babli's biological sonVikas AnandHarsharandas Mangla's FatherZankhana DesaiRajraniMangla's motherVinod NagpalShyamlalSubhadra's family friend and distant relativeS. M. ZaheerHabibullahVrishbhan's lawyer and friend
Reception Madhu Jain of India Today wrote, "Tuesday and Saturday nights are curfew time in Lahore: the streets of the city are empty as people rush home to see their favourite Buniyaad. Back home in India too, the TV series is rapidly moving up the popularity charts, and now ranks second among all TV serials, behind Nukkad."
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