'Mangal Lakshmi’ completing 700 episodes; Deepika Singh says; 'This special milestone speaks about difference this show has made to the lives of countless Indian households'

‘Mangal Lakshmi’ proudly completes 700 episodes, the family drama marks the milestone with its most daring transformation yet. The nation’s beloved homemaker-turned-entrepreneur, Mangal, portrayed by Deepika Singh, steps beyond the familiar confines of home to answer a far greater calling - rising as Desh Ki Beti and symbolising the evolving face of the Indian woman on television. Now, as the story enters a defining new chapter, Mangal's journey expands beyond family bonds to serve the nation itself.In the current storyline, Mangal’s life takes a turn when Adit takes over her long-built enterprise, Pehla Swaad, forcing her to start a new by launching her own wedding-planning venture. Fate intervenes when she bravely helps nab a criminal and hands him over to the police. Her fearlessness and integrity catch the attention of Inspector Jayaraj, who presents her with a covert mission that alters the course of her life. Mangal has spent years holding her parivaar together and now she is given the responsibility of safeguarding the nation. Accepting the mission as a matter of duty, she undergoes rigorous self-defense and martial arts training." Deepika Singh further opens up about the new era and shares, “What humbles me most is that audiences have grown with Mangal Lakshmi. They have witnessed her journey from being a homemaker, to an entrepreneur and to now Desh Ki Beti. Reaching the 700th episode is a special milestone that speaks to the difference this show has made to the lives of countless Indian households. This new era of her serving the nation is an extension of everything she has always stood for. For years, we have shown women as the glue that holds families together. Now, we are also saying that the same woman has the right and the courage to stand up against injustice beyond the four walls of her home.”She adds, “This arc allows us to shine a light on social evils that often go unnoticed, and on the everyday bravery it takes to confront them. When she learns self-defense and martial arts, it speaks to a larger truth that empowerment is not a luxury; it’s a necessity. As a woman and as an actor, I believe television has a responsibility to evolve the way it portrays women - not just as nurturers, but as decision-makers, protectors, and agents of change. It's about normalising strength and telling women that their safety, agency, and voice matter. If Mangal’s journey encourages women to feel more aware, more fearless, or more seen, then this turn has served its purpose. And for the entire Mangal Lakshmi team, this is only the beginning of a far more meaningful conversation.”