MUMBAI: It hasn't been an easy task, but Kasautii Zindagi Kay has finally ousted Balaji siblings Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii to lead the top 100 shows in C&S households in India in the week ended 17 May 2003.
While doing so, Kasauti..., which notched up a TVR of 9.6, also managed to push down Aruna Irani's Des Mein Niklla Hoga Chand, which had been having a steady climb up the ratings ladder, culminating in the coveted number one position last week (for week ended 10 May 2003). But today belongs to Kasautii...., which has been twisting and turning its storyline steadily in the last few months, notching up viewer curiosity and consequently some solid audience loyalty.
Kasautii.'s rise to the top also justifies Star's programming head Tarun Katial's belief in the serial's potential. In an interview with indiantelevision.com in October 2002, Katial had said that Kasauti.... could even surge ahead of Kahaani.... (then the Number Two soap), and that this climb would be facilitated by the strengthening of the storyline.
Kahaani.... meanwhile seems to slipping in the ratings even as Kyunki.... continues to hold its own. Kahaani.... was last seen at the top of the heap in the week ended 3 May, but is down at number 7 this week, with a TVR of 8.9. Kasautii.... at the time had bagged three of the top 10 slots on Star Plus' top shows for the week. Irani's Des Mein...which had rarely slackened from the top 10 spots, last week outdid itself and reached the number one position with a TVR of 10.9, only to slip down to number five in the latest ratings with a TVR of 9.3. 

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