There was a time when Indian television viewers waited eagerly each evening to see how a father’s love could stretch itself across seven daughters — their joys, sorrows, marriages, fights, and reconciliations. Amanat, which aired on Zee TV from 1997 to 2002, became one of those memorable sagas that defined family drama in its era. The show stood out because it didn’t just focus on a hero and heroine, but on a sprawling family and how tradition, values, ego, and love collided across generations.
Below is a quick overview of Amanat — the kind of “at-a-glance” summary a viewer or fan would bookmark to remember the essentials.
Overview
| Parameter | Detail |
| Title | Amanat |
| Genre | Family drama / Soap opera |
| Original Channel | Zee TV |
| Premiere Date | 21 August 1997 |
| End Date | 5 September 2002 |
| Number of Episodes | 263 (some sources say 264) |
| Episode Runtime | ~24 minutes (standard for TV soap) |
| Language | Hindi |
| Writers / Creative | Written by Mir Muneer |
| Directors | Sanjiv Bhattacharya, among others |
| Opening Theme | “Amanat” by Sonu Nigam |
Story / Plot Summary
Amanat centers on Lala Lahori Ram, a widowed father, who raises seven daughters all by himself. His world revolves around ensuring that each daughter is cared for, protected, and guided through life’s challenges even as society and relationships around them shift and test their bonds.
Because their mother passed away early, the daughters share a very close bond — both with one another and with their father. As each daughter grows, she faces challenges not only from life’s circumstances but from the expectations and pressures brought by marriage, in-laws, and societal norms. The show tracks how each daughter adjusts to her new family, how misunderstandings, pride, ego and financial issues strain relationships, and how Lahori Ram often finds himself in the role of mediator, protector, and emotional backbone.
The title “Amanat” essentially means a “trust” or “something precious entrusted” — and in the story’s context, the daughters themselves are his amanat: precious trust he must preserve and protect.
Conflicts in the show emerge from:
- Clashes between traditional values and changing modern outlooks
- Tensions between daughters’ natal family loyalty and duties to in-laws
- Financial or status differences across marital homes
- Ego, pride, misunderstandings and secret ambitions
- The burden on the father to balance fairness, love and boundaries
Over the many episodes, viewers see how families evolve, how forgiveness or stubbornness shape destinies, and how small decisions have long ripple effects on relationships.
Cast & Main Characters

Here’s a look at some of the key cast members and their roles in Amanat:
| Actor / Actress | Character / Role |
| Sudhir Pandey | Lala Lahori Ram (the father) |
| Pooja Madan | Santosh (eldest daughter) |
| Avinash Sahijwani | Chander (Santosh’s husband) |
| Gracy Singh | Dinky / Amrita (another daughter) |
| Randeep Singh | Amit (Dinky’s husband) |
| Smita Bansal | Dr. Bala (a daughter) |
| Shreyas Talpade | Dr. Manoj (Bala’s husband) |
| Gayatri Zariwala | Guddi (another daughter) |
| Harsh Khurana | Rohan (Guddi’s husband) |
| Ritu Vashisht | Bunty (another daughter) |
| Nimrata Gill | Munni (sixth daughter) |
| Swapnil Joshi | Inder (younger brother / relation via marriage) |
| Bharat Kapoor | Ahmed Khan (supporting role) |
| Ravi Gossain | Nigoda (supporting) |
| Rita Bhaduri | Gayatri Kapoor (in-law / familial relation) |
Because it is a multi-threaded family drama, many more supporting actors, in-laws, antagonists and side characters weave in and out over the years. The strength of Amanat was in how it handled a large ensemble rather than focusing on one or two protagonists alone.
Timing, Telecast & Reception
- Original Broadcast: The show aired on Zee TV starting 21 August 1997.
- Duration and Lifespan: It ran for over five years, concluding on 5 September 2002.
- Episode Count: Around 263 episodes are recorded; some listings mention 264.
- Time Slot: Precise daily time slot archives are harder to find now, though typically serials like this occupied early prime-time evening slots on weekdays during that era.
- Audience Response & Legacy:
• Amanat was well received for its emotional depth, multi-character arcs, and relatability in Indian households.
• Over time, as viewers watched daughters grow up, marry, take separate paths, and sometimes clash, many audiences felt personally invested in their journeys.
• It is listed among the longer-running and memorable shows of Indian television memory.
• Its themes of familial duty, sacrifice, and the emotional balance between father and daughters continue to evoke nostalgia.
What Makes Amanat Stand Out
- Scale & Scope
Rather than a narrow focus, Amanat attempted a panoramic canvas — seven daughters, multiple marital homes, a central father figure — and wove many storylines together. - Balanced Emotional Weight
The show did not idealize every character; some made mistakes, had flaws, and paid consequences. The emotional tug of forgiveness, misunderstanding, pride and humility kept viewers invested. - Central Patriarch as Anchor
Lahori Ram isn’t just a nice father — he’s often forced into making decisions, addressing conflicts, negotiating loyalties. The way he balances fairness and love forms an emotional core of the show. - Cultural Resonance
It mirrored issues many Indian families faced — especially when daughters leave the natal home, adjust to in-laws, juggle loyalties, or face financial and ego battles. That cultural mirror made it resonate deeply. - Longevity and Growth
Because it ran over many years, viewers saw characters evolve, change, falter, reconcile — something not all serials manage with consistency.