A Beginner’s Guide to IPKKND

Arnav Singh Raizada and Khushi Kumari Gupta (later Singh Raizada)

Classic example of an OTP and what it means to ‘ship hysterically.’

Anjali Jha

Arnav’s sister, overtly religious woman, possessor of miraculous baby bump, largely in denial about everything.

Shyam Manohar Jha

Slimy, psychotic, lecherous brother in law who has some real neurological issue. He twitches far more than is normal.

Akash Singh Raizada and Payal Gupta (later Singh Raizada)

The Silent Siblings. Arnav’s cousin and Khushi’s sister who get married and don’t do much else. I’ve forgotten what they sound like.

Lavanya Kashyap

Arnav’s ex-girlfriend and later Khushi’s friend. One of desi tv’s most dignified portrayals of The Other Woman.

Nand Kishore (NK)

Distant Aussie cousin of Arnav and Akash’s. Sticks around for stray comic relief in his gratingly accented Hindi, crush on and staunchly support Khushi.

Sundry other members of the two families

They’re mainly around to act shocked, hurt, disappointed, angry, snarky but rarely make any decision of importance.

Gold-digging, evil ex-girlfriend

Evil granny who endorses the patriarchy

and likes victim-blaming

More grating comic relief

Precocious kids who need to be spanked and sent to bed without supper

Rocky of the impressive pout

Lallan of the heavily kohl-lined eyes

Special mention: TV’s most endearingly inept kidnappers ever who probably had a crush on Arnav. (The fangirls sympathize, Rocky and Lallan.)