Balaji Studios, the digital arm of Balaji Telefilms, has announced its YouTube Originals show, Ishq Dum Aur Idli Rasam, which will premiere on 11th May, Monday, 6PM onwards on Balaji Telefilms YouTube channel. The trailer released today, and it is already creating a buzz for its unique blend of romance, food and emotional conflict. Executive produced by Surbhi Chandna (Feel Good Studios), the show will be streamed every Monday, Wednesday and Friday on YouTube.
Set inside a legacy South Indian restaurant struggling to survive, Ishq Dum and Idli Rasam is a story deeply rooted in food, family, memory and emotional legacy. At the center of the series is Mira Nair, played by the beautiful Shiney Doshi, an extremely passionate chef who believes that food is about service, comfort and responsibility, not pretense. For Meera, running her late father’s restaurant is not just a profession, but a way of preserving his legacy, values and emotional world.
Abhishek Kumar and Shiney Doshi to headline Balaji Studios-backed Ishq Dum and Idli Rasam; diet inside
Her carefully managed world is shaken when globally renowned chef-investor Arjun Thakur, known for his precision, discipline and modern culinary vision, played by Abhishek Kumar, enters her kitchen with the promise of revival but also the threat of erasing everything she holds. As two contrasting worlds collide, the rivalry slowly transforms into a tender, yet layered love story shaped by ambition, memory and emotional conflict. The series also stars talented actress Nehalakshmi Iyer in a pivotal role along with Aman Singh, Prerna Sahajpal, Vijayalakshmi Gurav and Karan Khanna.
Speaking about the launch, Nitin Burman, Chief Revenue Officer, Balaji Telefilms, said, “With Ishq Dum and Idli Rasam, we wanted to create a story that felt both rooted and contemporary. It’s not just a romance, it’s a narrative driven by emotion, identity and contradictory viewpoints. The response to Balaji Telefilms’ YouTube Originals shows has shown us a clear shift: audiences are actively choosing stories that are larger than life. There is a growing appetite for grounded, character-first storytelling in a digital-first space that allows us to connect directly with audiences who value authenticity and relatability.
Abhishek Kumar said, “Ishq Dum Aur Idli Rasam is not a traditional romance or a typical chef drama. It is a story where food becomes the entry point to understand people, their control, their emotions, their past. I found this idea very refreshing. Honestly, Arjun is one of the most challenging roles I have played so far. People have seen me in a certain light before, but this character is very different. He is controlled, intense and emotionally closed off. Ishq Dum and Idli Rasam feels like a step forward for me as an actor, and I’m excited to be a part of a Balaji Studios project that is exploring layered storytelling in such a refreshing way.
Elaborating further, Shiny Doshi shared, “What really made me say yes to Ishq Dum and Idli Rasam was how intimate the storytelling experience is. It’s not trying to be loud or dramatic; it’s about the emotions that exist in everyday life. And playing Meera really took me out of my comfort zone in the best possible way. I have never played a Malayali, South Indian character before, And there’s such beautiful simplicity and emotional honesty in her world. I had to slow down, unlearn some habits, and just feel the moment rather than ‘act out’ it. Balaji Studios made the process even more meaningful because it’s raw, raw and so different from what I’ve done before, and I’m really excited that our show doesn’t provoke emotions.
Surbhi Chandna (Feel Good Studios) said, “Being a part of Ishq Dum and Idli Rasam with Balaji Telefilms feels like a dream come true. This show is very special to me because its story has so much heart, warmth and simplicity. From the very beginning, I felt a strong connection with the vision of the project. It has been a beautiful experience to be a part of the creative journey behind the scenes as well as being emotionally connected to the story. Every day teaches me something new, and it feels amazing to create something that celebrates love, family, emotions, and culture in such a refreshing way. I really feel like this is a new chapter for me, and I’m always excited to move forward.
A blend of food, emotion and contrasting worldviews, Ishq Dum Aur Idli Rasam offers a fresh take on love shaped by memory and conflict. Set to have its YouTube premiere on May 11 at 6PM, the series adds a distinctive new voice to Balaji Studio’s digital lineup.
