After her mother's death, Jhanak is forced to marry her cousin Arshi’s fiancé, Aniruddh, to escape from her obsessive stalker, Tejas. Aniruddh and Arshi have been in a happy relationship for seven years. Jhanak, struggling to survive alone, is taken in by Aniruddh and works as a maid at the Bose house, facing constant insults from some family members while others treat her respectfully. Despite Arshi’s presence, Jhanak and Aniruddh develop romantic feelings for each other and become intimate in Kashmir while Aniruddh is intoxicated.
When their secret marriage is exposed, Arshi tries to leave Aniruddh, but he and Jhanak convince her to stay. However, their relationship secretly continues, and Jhanak ultimately moves to Mumbai to pursue a dance career, gaining confidence and standing up for herself. She later returns to the Bose House and tells everyone that she is pregnant and Aniruddh is the father. Arshi feels heartbroken. Aniruddh consoles Arshi and asks Jhanak to leave the house. She ultimately proves her enemies right by becoming intimate with Aniruddh. But she was not pregnant—it was a tumour. Aniruddh has a heart attack. Jhanak is targeted by Srishti and Tejas and is presumed dead. Rescued by Brijbhushan’s look-alike, Kulbhushan, she learns that Brijbhushan is her father and uncovers Srishti, Kulbhushan, and Urvashi's deceipt.
Brijbhushan, once betrayed by Srishti, was replaced by Kulbhushan, who stole his identity. Srishti spread lies about Urvashi, forcing her to raise Jhanak alone. Determined to expose the truth, Jhanak returns as Nutan, confronting her enemies. During Srishti and Vinayak’s anniversary, their secrets are revealed. Brijbhushan is later murdered, and Aniruddh brings Jhanak back. Wanting to marry her, Aniruddh falsely claims to have cancer, but Jhanak discovers the lie and leaves for Mumbai with Aditya Kapoor.
In Mumbai, Jhanak is kidnapped but escapes to Gujarat, where she meets Vihaan and his son, Ahaan. Vihaan asks Jhanak to pose as his late wife, Avni, to protect his family. Kulbhushan tracks Jhanak to Gujarat. During Priyanshi’s wedding, Arshi exposes Jhanak’s true identity, leading to her arranged marriage with Vihaan. However, Jhanak flees, is caught by Kulbhushan's goons, but escapes again. She ends up in a red-light district but manages to seek police help. Choton rescues her and takes her back to the Bose house.
At Arshi's baby shower, Srishti pretends to feel guilty and offers to take Jhanak home, but she refuses. Meanwhile, Vihaan searches for Jhanak, and Jimli elopes with Anindo, only to regret her decision. As Aniruddh's family prepares for Choton's wedding, Arshi falls, leading to complications in her pregnancy. At the hospital, a desperate father swaps his stillborn baby with Arshi's child, and Jhanak suspects foul play. However, Arshi is misled into believing her baby has died and blames Jhanak.
Kulbhushan and Srishti plot to kill Jhanak and seize Brijbhushan's property. Jhanak remains determined to find Arshi's baby before leaving the Bose house. During the Holi celebration, Bipasha's mother, Nandini, is exposed for having a secret past, causing turmoil. Meanwhile, Jhanak locates Omkar, the man involved in the baby swap, and tries to expose him. Bipasha conspires to send Jhanak away. As tensions rise, Jhanak is accused of kidnapping, while she remains steadfast in her mission to find the missing child.
Hiba Nawab as Jhanak Raina/Nutan Bhanushali/Fake Avni Parekh: A dancer; Srishti and Brijbhushan's daughter; Aarya's cousin; Arshi's half-sister and rival; Rahul's college friend; Tejas's ex-fiancée; Aditya's friend and one-sided lover; Aniruddh's ex-wife; Vihaan's fake wife and ex-fiancé; Ahaan's foster mother (2023–present)
Krushal Ahuja as Aniruddha "Ani" Bose: Shubhankar and Tanuja's son; Mimi and Rumi's brother; Jhanak's ex-husband; Arshi's former husband; Aditya's friend; Vihaan's best friend (2023–present)
Hiba Nawab was cast in the titular role of Jhanak.[5][6] Krushal Ahuja was cast as Aniruddha opposite Hiba Nawab.[7] Chandni Sharma was cast as Arshi and was the last to be cast on the show.[8][9]Dolly Sohi was cast as Arshi's mother Srishti,[10] whileKajal Pisal was cast as Aniruddh's mother Tanuja.[11][12] Rishi Kaushik was cast as Tejas, Jhanak's obsessive lover.[13][14]
The shooting of the series began in September 2023.[18] It was primarily based inKashmir andKolkata, and some initial episodes were shot in both locations.[19][20]
Nawab had learned to row a shikara within two days for the role of Jhanak.[21]
