: In urban areas, smaller households (parents and children) are now more common, though these families typically maintain intense, daily contact with their extended relatives.
Much of Indian pop culture revolves around the "Saas-Bahu" (mother-in-law/daughter-in-law) relationship. In daily life, this is nuanced. It is not always a fight; it is a negotiation of power. The afternoon soap operas are a reflection of this. While the mother-in-law watches a show about a villainous sister-in-law, the daughter-in-law pretends to fold laundry while scrolling through Instagram. Their daily story is one of silent diplomacy: "Did you add salt to the curry?" means "I am watching your every move."
