Filmmaker Kiran Rao has expressed her interest in remaking the popular South Korean drama Reply 1988 for Indian audiences. Speaking on The Popcorn Hour, she praised the show’s storytelling, particularly its portrayal of parents and the close-knit neighbourhood where the story unfolds.
The reunion revisited the series’ memories and music, giving fans another chance to return to a drama that had become deeply personal for many of them. Released in 2015, Reply 1988 is a South Korean slice-of-life drama directed by Shin Won Ho and written by Lee Woo Jung. The 20-episode series is set in Seoul’s Ssangmun-dong neighbourhood, beginning in 1988, around the time of the Seoul Olympics. The show’s popularity was celebrated again in December 2025, when tvN aired a 10th-anniversary special featuring members of the original cast.
During her appearance on the podcast, Kiran spoke about her love for Korean dramas and named Reply 1988 as a K -drama she would like to adapt. Set in Seoul in 1988, the series follows five families living in the same neighbourhood. “Best K-drama is a show called Reply 1988. It’s actually set in 1988. For Kiran, the real magic of Reply 1988 lies in its older characters. It’s set in a para, as they call it, a neighbourhood in Seoul in 1988. her last directorial was Laapataa Ladies in 2023 While Kiran Rao hopes to make Indian remake of the series.
It tells the story of childhood friendships, first love and growing up, while giving just as much attention to the parents and the lives they lead. It’s a fantastic show. The mothers and fathers are not simply there to guide their children or move the story forward. They have their own worries, relationships and disappointments, making them just as relatable as the younger characters. “The genuine jewel of this show is the older women, the mothers, and the fathers. They are just so good. In fact, in Kolkata also you call it para only,” she added. But the show is about much more than teenage romance. The parents have their own friendships, marital troubles, financial concerns and dreams that life has put on hold. Their stories often bring as much humour and heartbreak as those of their children. The film was led by Sparsh Shrivastava, Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, Chhaya Kadam and Ravi Kishan.
In fact, that’s something I would love to remake,” she said. It told the story of two young newly-wed women who get exchanged during a train ride and the chaos that ensues after.
