As various members of the family—Rameshwari Talluri-Seth, Rajat Bundale, Aastha Chaudhary and Siddharth Shukla— discussed their character’s expectations from the budget, a team of moderators and the host answered their queries. The stars were also given a chance to fire personal questions, after the “character” segment. “All families are affected by the budget and our programmes—Budget Davat,

Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki—always break things down for viewers and they are inclusive. It isn’t just housewives and businessmen, kiranawalas and the man on the street is also featured,” said Priyanka Tiku, Brand Head, CNBC AWAAZ.

She explained that the protagonists of Baabul Ka Aangan Chhotey Na fit the programme’s populist outlook. “The mother or mother-in-law could have been from any family,” she says. Talluri-Seth couldn’t disagree more. “I was very uncomfortable during the shoot. I usually sit cross-legged but since I was playing a house-wife, that wasn’t possible,” she says. The actor also argued that not too many housewives wear lipstick at home. Another obstacle, she said, was her lack of proficiency in Hindi (dubbing usually takes care of that).

Talluri-Seth’s real life persona couldn’t have been more opposite. “I’m an avid follower of the budget. A middle-class person is more bothered about the price of petrol than dal-chawal. And I know how prices rise—it doesn’t happen overnight,” she said. Ironically, Chaudhary, her daughter in the serial, portrayed as progressive, has no clue about the machinations of the finance ministry.

“I’ve either been asleep or walked into another room when my father watched the budget. Maybe now that I’m earning, I’d want to find out where to invest,” said the 22-year-old. The paradox between real and reel life counters Tiku’s argument when he says the family is a representational, uncomplicated portrayal of a middle-class household. (Perhaps because there isn’t any one typical Indian family?)