Set in Mumbai, Ichcha is the daughter of a poor widow Damini, who begins working at Jogi Thakur Mansion as a maid. Jogi's daughter Tapasya befriends Ichcha, and they share a sister-like bond. Sumitra influences Tapasya to see Ichcha differently. Tapasya gets jealous when Divya and Jogi care for Ichcha as their child, unaware that Jogi was responsible for Ichcha's father Rajendra's death.
Tapasya is a rich spoilt brat. Simple, Ichcha wants to open a school to give free education to poor kids. Tapasya's parents arrange their daughter's marriage with Veer Singh, who belongs to a reputed and wealthy family. But Tapasya never shows interest towards the marriage as she is in relationship with Siddharth (Sid). Slowly Veer and Iccha fall in love and their families agree to their marriage. Insecure seeing Veer shower Ichcha with expensive gifts, Tapasya fakes a suicide attempt and begs Ichcha to let her marry Veer. Ichcha agrees, and Veer marries Tapasya. That same night, Veer learns the truth, and Tapasya claims Ichcha forced her to marry him, believing she is not right for him. The next day, Veer lashes out Tapasya in front of her family and forces Ichcha to tell the truth. Meanwhile, his elder brother Vansh, a drug addict falls for Ichha looking at her caring nature.
Veer, unaware of Vansh's love, tries to divorce Tapasya and marry Ichha, who tries to distance herself from him. Tapasya tries to get Iccha killed with the help of Sid. Veer saves Iccha, but not before she gets shot and is hospitalized; Sid is then arrested. Tapasya tricks Gunvanti who gets Vansh and Ichha married. A heartbroken Veer pretends to be happy with Tapasya. Vansh overhears Sid slamming Tapasya for ruining Iccha's life. Tapasya, however, misleads Vansh, indirectly blaming him for Ichha's sufferings. As a result, he kills himself. Iccha holds Veer responsible for Vansh's death, and Gunvanti, in turn, blames Ichha. Veer explains how Tapasya tried to kill Ichha and made Vansh commit suicide, by displaying a video revealing the day's actions shot by Sid, who wanted to take revenge from Tapasya. Shocked, Jogi disowns her. Ichha goes to Vrindavan. There, Veer arrives to unite with her, and they get married; the family accepts them.
Tapasya meets Raghuvendra Rathore, who falls for her, but she betrays him in game of poker. He leaves her due to her disloyalty. Pregnant with his baby, she returns to Veer's family and delivers Mukta, whom she unintentionally abandons. Veer and Ichha raise her, unaware she is Tapasya's daughter. They also adopt an orphan and name him Kanha. Ichha delivers a boy but Sumitra and her son Pushkar steal him.
They bribe the nurse to tell Ichha that the boy was stillborn. Raghuvendra bumps into and takes the baby from Pushkar. He and Tapasya adopt the baby, named Yuvraj. Sid creates misunderstandings between Rathore and Tapasya, causing Tapasya to leave Rathore. Rocky Shah, Vansh's lookalike, enters the Bundela mansion as Vansh and falls for Iccha. Jogi rescues Iccha from him, accidentally kills Rocky and is bailed out by Rathore. Veer reveals Gunvanti to be behind all this, and Gunvanti admits to holding a grudge against Iccha for adopting the two children and not giving birth to her own son, whom she wants as an heir to the family. They later find out that Yuvraj is Iccha's real son and give Mukta to Jogi in exchange for Yuvraj. Pregnant again, Ichha saves Veer from the cruel Avinash, who attacks him. Veer loses his memory. Ichha kills Avinash and is jailed for 18 years. Ichha delivers a girl in prison, and tells Damini to raise the baby, named Meethi
Meethi and Mukta are best friends just like their mothers. Ichcha returns. Kanha, whom Damini raised is a successful CEO, happily married to Surbhi. Yuvraj and Meethi were brought up by Gunvanti and Damini respectively, and Gunvanti instigated him against Ichcha. Sumitra tells Meethi that Ichcha is alive but lies that she ruined Tapasya's life. Initially in denial, Meethi develops a negative opinion of Ichcha when she learns she was in prison for murder. Kanha reveals Ichcha was imprisoned for murder but omits that she killed Avinash to save Veer. Despite Damini and Kanha's efforts, Meethi disbelieves them and rejects Ichcha. Sumitra brainwashes Mukta, who grows close to Yuvraj.
Later, he tries to rape Mukta, but Ichcha saves her. Mukta realizes she misunderstood her and Meethi. Yuvraj is arrested and finds out Ichcha is his mother. His hatred for her further intensifies as she testifies against him in court, and he is incarcerated for 5 years. Veer who has still no memories, lives with Gunvanti and Amla. Reformed after living in US for years, Tapasya comes back and restores his memory. Vishnu encourages Meethi, who finally accepts Ichcha.
Eventually, Veer and Ichcha unite. Meethi marries Vishnu on Ichcha's arrangement. He is actually Avinash's son, Akash, who wants revenge. Mukta discovers his truth and tries to locate the real Vishnu, a humble blue-collar worker for an NGO, to expose Akash. He orders his goons to kidnap and kill Mukta. Fortunately, Raghuvendra saves her. At Akash and Meethi's wedding, Mukta tries to expose him but no one except Sumitra believes her.
Meanwhile, Ichcha and Tapasya risk their life to save Mukta from Veer's uncle Tej, who shoots Tapasya. Fatally, Ichcha gets hit by a truck and donates her heart to Tapasya before dying. Tapasya now cares for Meethi just like Mukta. Later, Raghuvendra gets the evidence to expose Akash. Surbhi turns out as Akash's maternal cousin. His mom, Ekadashi orders him to kill Meethi but he falls in love with her. Meethi leaves the house. Tapasya throws the pregnant Surbhi out.
Surbhi repents for her actions and dies after delivering Ajitesh. Kanha forgives her and promises to raise Ajitesh. As Vishnu and Mukta love each other, they marry and soon have a son, Manav. Meethi and Akash unite. She is accepted by his family. After undergoing a plastic surgery, Yuvraj returns as Mukta's boss for revenge. He kidnaps her. While saving her, a pregnant Meethi miscarries and disowns Yuvraj before Ekadashi banishes her. She travels to Srinagar.
Caught up in a terrorist attack by Asgar, Meethi slips into a river and is transported by the current across the border to Gilgit. Ashfaq saves her; he falls in love with and helps her in returning to India. He bids her a tearful goodbye. Akash and Meethi unite. She adopts Rani as Nandini is imprisoned because she saved Akash from and murdered his old enemy. Meethi and Akash also adopt Tamanna, whom Rani hates. Sumitra reforms.
Eventually, Sumitra and Damini convince Mukta and Meethi to unite, and in the end, reflect the everlasting friendship of Ichcha and Tapasya.
Ichcha Bundela: Damini and Rajendra's daughter; Divya and Jogi's foster daughter; Tapasya's best friend; Vansh's widow; Veer's second wife; Yuvraj and Meethi's mother; Mukta and Kanha's adoptive mother (2009–2013)
Meethi Chatterjee: Ichcha and Veer's younger daughter; Yuvraj's sister; Mukta's best friend; Kanha's adoptive sister; Akash's wife; Rani and Tamanna's adoptive mother (2012–2015)
Rashami Desai as Tapasya Rathore: Divya and Jogi's daughter; Ichcha's best friend; Veer's ex-wife; Raghuvendra's second wife; Ambika's step mother; Mukta's mother; Yuvraj's adoptive mother; Manav's maternal grandmother (2009 - 2014)
Nandish Sandhu/Vikas Bhalla as Veer Singh Bundela: Umed and Gunvanti's younger son; Vansh's brother; Tapasya's ex-husband; Ichcha's widower; Amla's husband; Yuvraj and Meethi's father; Mukta and Kanha's adoptive father (2009–2012)/(2012–2013)
Gaurav Chopra as Raghuvendra Pratap Rathore: Malvika's ex-husband; Tapasya's second husband; Ambika and Mukta's father; Yuvraj's adoptive father; Manav's maternal grandfather (2010–2014)
Sreejita De as Mukta Kashyap: Tapasya and Raghuvendra's daughter; Ambika's half-sister; Yuvraj's adoptive sister; Meethi's best friend; Vishnu's wife; Manav's mother (2012–2015)
Saurabh Raj Jain/Bharat Chawda as Yuvraj Singh Bundela: Ichcha and Veer's elder son; Tapasya and Raghuvendra's adoptive son; Meethi's brother; Kanha and Mukta's adoptive brother (2012–2014)
Mrunal Jain as Akash Chatterjee: Avinash and Ekadashi's elder son; Sankrant's brother; Surbhi and Nirbhay's cousin; Meethi's husband; Rani and Tamanna's adoptive father (2013–2015)
Ajay Chaudhary as Vishnu Kashyap: Mukta's husband; Manav's father (2013–2015)
It later took a generation leap and from June 2009 to March 2012, it focused on the characters of Ichcha, Tapasya, Veer and Vansh played by Tina Datta, Rashami Desai, Nandish Sandhu and Rohit Khurana respectively.[5][6] Sandhu quit the show as he doesn't want to be the part of 18 years leap and was replaced by Vikas Bhalla in 2012.[7] Rajsingh Verma played Avinash as the key negative character.
Uttaran's premiere had a 3.25 target rating point (TRP) and it became one of the top-rated Hindi GEC, and the second most watched program of Colors TV after Balika Vadhu at the time.[9][10][11] It was one of the show that helped Colors TV to briefly gain first position in Hindi GEC, breaking the nine-year run of Star Plus. From 2008 until the first quarter of 2012, Uttaran maintained its top position mostly on the ratings charts.[12]
In week 51 of 2008, it occupied fifth position with 3.84 TVR.[13]
In week 2 of 2009, it occupied fourth position with 4.5 TVR. In week of 24 October 2009, it occupied top position and garnered 8.2 TVR. In week of 14 November 2009, it garnered its highest weekly rating of 9.6 TVR.[14][15][16]
In week 3 of 2010, it occupied top position and garnered 8.1 TVR. In week of 17 July 2010, it garnered its highest weekly rating of 8.4 TVR. In week 46 of 2010, it occupied third position with 5.64 TVR.[17][18]
For a record week of 44, it was the top 10 position in Hindi GEC throughout the year 2011 and In week 13 of 2011, it occupied top position with 5.9 TVR. In week 29 of 2011, it occupied fourth position with 5.04 TVR.[19][20]
In week 7 of 2012, It occupied fifth position with 4.44 TVR.[21]
The 18 years leap marked a series of disappointments for the show so as during the years of mid-2012 to 2015, Uttaran TRP ratings dropped significantly and eventually the serial ended on 16 January 2015 after airing for 6 years and was replaced by Code Red from 19 January 2015.[22]
