'Ganga Mai Ki Betiyan' stars on female friendship ahead of Friendship Day
Synopsis
As Friendship Day approaches, the stars of Zee TV's 'Ganga Mai Ki Betiyan' make a case for something rare on Indian primetime: a female friendship written as the emotional core of the show, not a subplot. Shubhangi Latkar and Indira Krishna say their characters' bond — built on opposites choosing trust — is the kind of story Indian television has long overlooked.
Key Takeaways
Shubhangi Latkar and Indira Krishna spoke ahead of Friendship Day about the female friendship at the heart of 'Ganga Mai Ki Betiyan' .
Latkar plays Ganga Mai — calm and compassionate; Krishna plays Durgawati — fearless and outspoken.
Both actresses highlighted that female friendship as a central narrative is rarely explored with depth on Indian television.
Krishna described Durgawati's bond with Ganga as having grown bigger than many of her character's other relationships. 'Ganga Mai Ki Betiyan' airs daily on Zee TV at 9 pm .
Ahead of Friendship Day, the two leads of Zee TV's daily drama 'Ganga Mai Ki Betiyan' — Shubhangi Latkar, who plays Ganga Mai, and Indira Krishna, who plays Durgawati — have opened up about what makes the bond between their characters one of the show's most compelling threads. The actresses spoke on 1 August from Mumbai, reflecting on why female friendship rarely gets this kind of screen depth on Indian television.
Opposites Who Choose Trust
Shubhangi Latkar described the Ganga Mai–Durgawati dynamic as a study in contrasts that somehow works. 'What I truly love about Ganga Mai and Durgawati's bond is that they are complete opposites, yet they complement each other beautifully. While Durgawati is fearless, outspoken, and never hesitates to speak her mind, Ganga Mai is calm, innocent and believes in handling every situation with patience and compassion,' she said.
Latkar noted that Indian television has long celebrated romantic love and family ties, but friendships between women — particularly ones written with this level of nuance — are rarely explored. 'Despite having every reason to misunderstand one another, Ganga Mai and Durgawati choose trust over doubt and stand by each other through every challenge,' she added.
Durgawati: The Layered Modern Woman
Indira Krishna described her character Durgawati as one of the most layered roles she has played in terms of relationships. 'Durgawati represents the spirit of today's woman — fearless, outspoken and unafraid to voice her opinions,' she said, contrasting her character's boldness with Ganga's quiet resilience.
Krishna emphasised that the friendship's power lies in its unconditional quality: 'Durgawati fights for Ganga's rights as fiercely as she would for her own, and Ganga's unwavering faith in her makes this friendship truly special.' She added that at this stage of Durgawati's arc, the bond has grown to overshadow many of her other relationships — a storytelling choice she finds particularly meaningful.
Why the Show Stands Out
Female friendship as a central narrative on primetime Indian television remains relatively uncommon. Most daily soaps anchor their drama in romantic arcs or family conflict. 'Ganga Mai Ki Betiyan' positions the friendship between its two leads as the emotional spine of the show — a structural decision that both actresses say resonates strongly with viewers.
This comes as Indian OTT and television content increasingly explores women-centric ensemble stories, making the show's timing on Zee TV particularly relevant.
Airing Details
'Ganga Mai Ki Betiyan' airs every day on Zee TV at 9 pm. The show continues to draw audiences with its portrayal of two women navigating life's challenges side by side.
Point of View
And that says something about the medium's default assumptions. Most daily soaps treat women's relationships as competitive or subordinate to romance — 'Ganga Mai Ki Betiyan' is at least attempting a different grammar. Whether the show sustains that intent across episodes or reverts to formula is the real test. The Friendship Day timing is smart positioning, but the more durable question is whether Indian television is ready to let two women's bond carry a show without a male pivot.
NationPress
1 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 'Ganga Mai Ki Betiyan' about?
'Ganga Mai Ki Betiyan' is a daily drama on Zee TV centred on two women, Ganga Mai and Durgawati, whose contrasting personalities form the emotional core of the show. It airs every day at 9 pm on Zee TV.
Who plays the lead roles in 'Ganga Mai Ki Betiyan'?
Shubhangi Latkar plays Ganga Mai and Indira Krishna plays Durgawati. Both characters are described as opposites — Ganga Mai is calm and compassionate, while Durgawati is fearless and outspoken.
Why did the cast speak about female friendship now?
The actresses shared their thoughts ahead of Friendship Day, which falls on Sunday. The timing was used to highlight how the show explores female friendship with greater depth than is typical on Indian television.
What makes the Ganga Mai–Durgawati friendship unique according to the actresses?
According to Shubhangi Latkar and Indira Krishna, the friendship is built on two very different women choosing trust over doubt despite every reason to misunderstand each other. Indira Krishna noted that Durgawati fights for Ganga's rights as fiercely as her own, making the bond feel unconditional.
How does 'Ganga Mai Ki Betiyan' differ from other Indian TV shows?
Unlike most Indian daily soaps that anchor drama in romance or family conflict, 'Ganga Mai Ki Betiyan' positions female friendship as the central narrative. Both lead actresses have highlighted this as a relatively rare storytelling choice on Indian primetime television.
