This show became India's first soap to reach 1000 episodes, was remake of Gujarati serial, directed by Bollywood's...

Director Vipul Amrutlal Shah (Waqt, The Kerala Story) directed a family drama Ek Mahal Ho Sapno Ka, which became the first television drama series to reach 1000 episodes. Premiered on Sony Entertainment Television, the show was considered among the longest-running television series of Indian television of that time. The show started on January 25, 1999, and ran for 2 years and 10 months, ending on November 29, 2002.

The show was a remake of a hit Gujarati show, Sapna Na Vavetar. The original show was telecasted on DD Gujarati and ran from 1996 to 1997.

Rajeev Mehta and Supriya Pathak, best known as Praful and Hansa Parekh from popular sitcom Khichdi were among the primary cast members of the show. This was the first show where the two talented actors shared screen space. Apart from them, the show had Ajit Vachhani, Dina Pathak, Rasik Dave, Manoj Joshi, and Vandana Pathak in key roles.

Ek Mahal Ho Sapno Ka focuses on a Gujarati business tycoon, Purushottam Nanavati (late Ajit Vachhani), who is the head of his joint family of four married sons. It focuses on the problems a joint family faces. The tiff of family members, their separation, their union, and the ways they mend their differences form most of the narrative. This show was also called one of the progressive shows of that time.

Currently, the longest-running Hindi fiction shows include Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah (4136 episodes), Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai (4493 episodes), Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain! (2374 episodes), and other shows.