'They hate us but they ain't us': Indians roasted for 'sasti' copy of Pakistani drama Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum

A new Indian drama has found itself at the centre of a social media storm after viewers accused it of borrowing heavily from Pakistan’s blockbuster serial Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum.

The show, Qubool Hai, starring real-life couple Mohit Sehgal and Sanaya Irani, is being compared online to the Pakistani hit that turned Fahad Mustafa and Hania Aamir into one of television’s most-loved on-screen pairings.

The controversy erupted after viewers spotted a scene that they say looked almost identical to a memorable moment from Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum.

In the Indian drama, a female character cooks for the household before being offered money by another woman. Fans were quick to point out the resemblance to the famous confrontation between Sharjeena and Rubab in Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum, where a seemingly simple gesture turns into a tense and bitter exchange.

The similarities did not go unnoticed.

“Full copy of Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum,” wrote one user.

“They cannot carry it like Hania and Naeema,” another commented.

Others were even more direct, with comments ranging from “Lol they’re copying Pakistani dramas now” to “Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum sasti copy.”

As clips circulated online, viewers began identifying other moments they believed mirrored scenes from the Pakistani drama, fuelling accusations that the similarities went far beyond a single sequence.

For many fans, the comparisons immediately brought back memories of another controversy.

Last year, viewers made similar claims about Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, arguing that parts of its storyline closely resembled Mustafa and Sharjeena’s journey. Fans highlighted everything from the couple leaving a wealthy household to start over elsewhere, to styling choices that reminded them of Sharjeena’s iconic wardrobe.

The repeated comparisons have only reinforced the belief among some viewers that Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum has become a creative reference point far beyond Pakistan.

Originally airing in 2024, the drama became a cultural phenomenon, amassing more than 1.4 billion YouTube views and ranking among Pakistan’s most searched television shows of the year.

Whether the similarities are coincidence, inspiration or something more, one thing is clear: fans of Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum were quick to spot them — and they are not staying quiet about it.