The finest old Hindi serials everyone should watch include Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, Khichdi, Shaktimaan, Office Office, Dekh Bhai Dekh and Hum Paanch. Most of them aired between 1993 and 2006, and several now stream free with ads on JioHotstar or ZEE5. Here are 10 classics, with years, channels and where to watch them today.
These shows were made on small budgets, with simple sets and a lot of trust in writing and actors. That is why they still work on a phone screen in 2026. We have checked current streaming listings in India for each one where possible.
Classic sitcoms
1. Sarabhai vs Sarabhai (2004 to 2006)
Aired on Star One. Monisha, a middle-class girl, marries into the snobbish, upper-class Sarabhai family in South Mumbai, and her mother-in-law Maya cannot stand her taste. Ratna Pathak Shah as Maya and Satish Shah as Indravadan are the reason people still rewatch it, along with Rupali Ganguly, Sumeet Raghavan and Rajesh Kumar as Rosesh.
Also read8 Great Plot Twists in Hindi Films and Where to Stream Them
A short web season, Sarabhai vs Sarabhai: Take 2, came out on Hotstar in 2017. Where to watch: JioHotstar, free with ads.
2. Khichdi (2002)
Aired on Star Plus. The Parekh family is a joint Gujarati household where every simple problem ends in chaos. Anang Desai as Babuji and Supriya Pathak as Hansa made the show a cult hit, and Hansa and Praful’s scenes are still meme material.
The franchise continued with Instant Khichdi, a 2010 film and Khichdi 2: Mission Paanthukistan in cinemas in November 2023. Where to watch: JioHotstar, free with ads.
3. Dekh Bhai Dekh (1993 to 1994)
Aired on DD Metro, created and directed by Anand Mahendroo. It follows three generations of the Diwan family in one large house, with Shekhar Suman, Navin Nischol and Farida Jalal leading a strong cast. The comedy comes from family fights, misunderstandings and Shekhar Suman’s timing.
4. Office Office (2001)
Premiered on SAB TV on 3 September 2001. Pankaj Kapur plays Musaddilal, a common man who needs a simple government job done and runs into bribe-hungry clerks at every desk. Each episode takes a different office, from pensions to ration cards, and the satire still feels current.
5. Zabaan Sambhalke (1993)
Based on the British sitcom Mind Your Language. Pankaj Kapur plays Mohan Bharti, an engineer forced to teach Hindi to a class of foreigners and Indians from other states at a language institute. The first season ran on DD Metro in 1993 and 1994, and a second followed on Home TV.
6. Hum Paanch (1995)
First aired on Zee TV and produced by Balaji Telefilms. Ashok Saraf plays Anand Mathur, a harried father of five very different daughters, while the photo of his late first wife talks back to him from the wall. It was one of Balaji’s earliest hits. Where to watch: ZEE5, free with ads.
Fantasy and superhero shows
7. Shaktimaan (1997 to 2005)
Aired on DD National for 450 episodes, created by Mukesh Khanna, who also played Shaktimaan and his mild alter ego, photographer Gangadhar. For 90s kids, Sunday afternoons meant Shaktimaan and the short moral lessons at the end of each episode.
The show has had a long afterlife. Khanna released a teaser in November 2024 announcing Shaktimaan’s return, and a 40-episode audio series, Shaktimaan Returns, streams on Pocket FM. A film by Sony Pictures was announced in 2022 but has no release date yet. Where to watch: old episodes are on YouTube via Ultra India and have also been on Prime Video.
8. Shaka Laka Boom Boom (2000 to 2004)
Sanju, an ordinary schoolboy, finds a magic pencil that brings whatever he draws to life, and villains come after it. The first season aired on DD National, and the show then moved to Star Plus from 2002 to 2004, with Kinshuk Vaidya as Sanju. Where to watch: JioHotstar, free with ads.
9. Shararat (2003)
Aired on Star Plus. Three generations of women in one family have magical powers, and the comedy comes from trying to hide them from the world. Shruti Seth and Farida Jalal lead the cast. Where to watch: JioHotstar, free with ads.
Youth drama
10. Hip Hip Hurray (1998 to 2001)
Aired on Zee TV from October 1998 to May 2001, created and directed by Nupur Asthana for UTV. It follows a group of Class 12 students at a Mumbai school and dealt with peer pressure, crushes and career stress without lecturing. The cast included Purab Kohli, Vinay Pathak, Suchitra Pillai and Sanjay Mishra. Where to watch: ZEE5, as per The Week.
Why these old serials still work
Each show had a clear idea and stuck to it. The comedy came from character, not slapstick, and episodes were short and self-contained. That makes them easy to binge in 20-minute breaks. For newer shows to watch after these, see our series section, and for more nostalgia picks, browse our listicles. TV star updates are in celebs.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I watch Sarabhai vs Sarabhai?
Sarabhai vs Sarabhai streams on JioHotstar in India, free with ads, as per JustWatch.
Is Shaktimaan coming back?
Mukesh Khanna announced a return in November 2024, and an audio series is on Pocket FM. The Sony Pictures film announced in 2022 has no release date yet.
Which old Hindi serials are on ZEE5?
Hum Paanch and Hip Hip Hurray are on ZEE5, both originally Zee TV shows.
Who played Musaddilal in Office Office?
Pankaj Kapur played Musaddilal. He also led Zabaan Sambhalke as Mohan Bharti.
Sources: Wikipedia: Shaktimaan, JustWatch India, The Week.
