In these narratives, the house is never just a backdrop. Whether it is the haveli (mansion) of a North Indian business family with its long corridors and locked rooms, or the compact, multi-generational flat in a Mumbai high-rise, the architecture dictates the drama. The kitchen is a throne room of power; the terrace is a confessional; the living room sofa is the negotiation table.

Five years ago, Western audiences binge-watched Breaking Bad . Today, they are binge-watching Made in Heaven and The Great Indian Family .

Why the shift?

While the setting of the "haveli" (mansion) was the staple of older stories, the modern narrative has shifted to the cities. This transition reflects the reality of a rapidly urbanizing nation.