A new version of the iconic telenovela “The Rich Also Cry” has been airing on TV Channel Russia 1 since 13 July 2026, marking the return of one of the most recognizable Latin American titles in the post-Soviet television landscape.
The original 1979 series, starring Verónica Castro, became a cultural phenomenon across the region, with its title entering everyday language. In the 1990s, it aired in Russia following “Slave Isaura”, and audiences embraced its emotionally charged storytelling.
Latin American series became a staple of Russian television in the late 1980s, introducing viewers to a world driven by heightened emotions and melodrama. While their popularity later gave way to Turkish and Korean dramas, the Latin American industry has continued to evolve. Modern telenovelas feature more complex narratives, faster pacing and higher production values, often combining romance with crime storylines, corruption, family secrets and themes of justice.
The new adaptation of “The Rich Also Cry” is based on a novel by Cuban writer Inés Rodena, whose works have been widely adapted for television. The storyline remains faithful to the original: Mariana Villarreal, a modest and hardworking orphan, saves the life of Don Alberto Salvatierra, the head of one of Mexico’s largest business empires. In gratitude, he offers her a job and a chance at a better life.
Her world changes when she meets his spoiled son, Luis Alberto. The two fall in love, but their relationship faces multiple challenges, as differences in status and social position continue to shape their fate.
The new series consists of 60 episodes of 60 minutes each, compared to the original project, which ran for 244 episodes of 40 minutes. The shorter format and more dynamic editing bring the adaptation closer to modern television standards, while preserving the spirit and key plot twists familiar to several generations of viewers. The premiere has already sparked active discussion on social media, where audiences are comparing performances and sharing nostalgic memories of the original series.