Some 50% of original programming in India is "serials." Now, calling a serial, a mere soap opera would not be fair. Granted, serials do have the traditional signs of a soap opera:
1) Incredulous plot lines with unclear character motivations
2) Unnecessarily long pauses with dramatic music and nausea inducing close-ups
3) Extremely loud monologues/private conversations conveniently overheard by others
etc. etc.
But they are all this and so much more. They are such a staple of Indian TV watching culture that they are shown in prime time (take that 'Days of Our Lives'!). Some people's entire evening schedule runs around the serials.
The shows, of course, are all very women focused. The sympathetic protagonists and unfathomably evil antagonists are all female; the male characters are an after thought. Because this is India, they also all tend to be very joint family oriented. Hence, it's no surprise the most successful soap opera of them all (and my extended family's primary vice from 2003 to 2005) was a serial called Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi (Because a Mother-in-law was once a daughter-in-law):
I am seriously starting to think that serials may be able to give my beloved telenovelas a run for their money.
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