Indian television celebrates a landmark moment as *Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai*, produced by Rajan Shahi’s Director’s Kut Productions (DKP), achieves the extraordinary milestone of 5000 episodes, further strengthening its position as India’s longest-running television show. The milestone was reached on the birthday of the show’s creator and producer, Rajan Shahi, adding profound emotional significance to the celebration.

Calling the moment “a divine blessing,” Rajan Shahi reflected on the collective effort that made this record possible. “Completing 5000 episodes on my birthday feels like a gift from the universe. This milestone has been possible only because of teamwork. For us, *Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai* has always been God’s own show,” he said.

As he completes 35 years in the industry, Rajan expressed heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Uday Shankar for giving him his first break as a producer with *Bidaai*. “Uday sir has stood by us from *Bidaai* to *Anupamaa*. I would like to thank him for his faith and trust in me. Despite changing trends, *Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai* continues to be one of India’s top-rated shows, earning the love of viewers. And *Anupamaa* has been ruling the TRP charts since its launch. It has become a trendsetter and one of the most iconic shows in the country,” he added.

Producer Deepa Shahi, who co-heads DKP, shared an emotional note on her family’s four-generation journey in the entertainment industry. “My father, P. Jairaj ji, began his career as an actor in silent films in 1929. I stepped in as a producer with *Anupamaa*, and today, my granddaughter Ishika enters the digital space with new shows. With this, our family completes 96 years of contributing to films, television, and digital storytelling. Seeing *YRKKH* reach 5000 episodes on my son Rajan’s birthday feels symbolic and special.”

Carrying the legacy forward, Ishika Shahi, who leads DKP’s digital division, spoke about forging her own creative identity. “I feel truly grateful to be entering the digital landscape at such a meaningful time. My aim is to create relatable, fresh content and build my own identity. My first digital project launches in January 2026 on YouTube, making it accessible to everyone, and this milestone for *Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai* inspires me tremendously,” she said.

The grand celebration saw the presence of several prominent personalities and well-wishers. Ashoke Pandit, B.N. Tiwari and Kanwar Dhillon made a surprise appearance to wish Rajan Shahi on his birthday. Former *YRKKH* leads Mohsin Khan and Shivangi Joshi graced the occasion, while Anita Raaj recited a heartfelt shayari. Rohit Purohit, Sheena Bajaj, Samridhi Shukla, Rupali Ganguly—who delivered an emotional speech—Alpana Buch, Shivam Khajuria, Ruheen Ali, Urva Rumani, Sikandar Kharbanda, Sachin Tyagi, Niyati Joshi, Manish Naggdev, Adrija Roy, Gaurav Sharma, Rahul Sharma, Shruti Rawat, Shruti Ulfat Panwar, Sandeep Rajora, Rishabh Jaiswal, Shreya Kalra, and Rinku Dhawan were among the many who joined the festivities.

The celebration also featured a special video chronicling Rajan Shahi’s three-decade-long journey, crew performances on various songs, and the presentation of trophies to all behind-the-scenes departments of Director’s Kut Productions—honouring the teams whose dedication has kept the show thriving for over 15 years.