ARTBAR

raising creative thinkers

Modern Hindi cinema has increasingly pushed the boundaries of conventional romance, moving from safe love triangles to complex examinations of modern fidelity.

To understand the shock of open relationships in Bollywood, we must first revisit the "Rulebook of 90s Romance." In films like Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! and DDLJ , the architecture of love was feudal.

But for the urban Indian navigating Bumble, Hinge, and a ten-year marriage? The silence is deafening. We are living in Gehraiyaan , but the movies are still selling us Silsila .

For generations, Bollywood has been the undisputed architect of romantic dreams in India. From the snow-capped peaks of Switzerland to the rain-soaked streets of Mumbai, Hindi cinema has taught millions how to love, how to pine, how to fight for that one true soulmate, and how to believe in the elusive “happily ever after”. The quintessential Bollywood romance has been a sacred institution—monogamous, all-consuming, and eternally faithful.

Public figures openly discussing co-parenting after divorce, casual dating, or fluid relationship boundaries dismantled the myth of the "perfect Bollywood marriage." This cultural shifts created a demand for stories that reflected these nuanced realities. Audiences, particularly Gen Z and Millennials, grew weary of pristine, melodramatic love stories. They sought narratives that mirrored their own vulnerabilities, leading writers to experiment with themes of emotional infidelity, open marriages, and situational commitment. Deconstructing Modern Romantic Storylines

Films from the 1990s and early 2000s, such as Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai , cemented the idea that a person’s romantic life should culminate in a single, unwavering union. In this traditional landscape, the very idea of an or sharing a partner was almost universally villainized. Infidelity or a wandering eye was typically reserved for the antagonist, serving as a plot device to highlight the virtue and loyalty of the protagonist. The Cultural Shift: Why Bollywood is Changing

Reel Love, Real Rules: Bollywood’s Evolution with Open Relationships and Romantic Storylines

The rise of these storylines is not happening in a vacuum. They are both feeding and feeding off a genuine shift in Indian societal attitudes. A groundbreaking nationwide survey conducted by Gleeden in partnership with IPSOS in 2025-26 found that a staggering .

Imtiaz Ali and Karan Johar have both contributed to a sub-genre where love does not automatically equal domestic partnership. In Tamasha , love is a catalyst for self-discovery, not a cage. In Ae Dil Hai Mushkil , the narrative bravely suggests that deep, non-sexual emotional intimacy (platonic love) can be just as consuming and valid as a traditional romantic relationship.

The anthology films Lust Stories (1 and 2) explicitly centered female pleasure, casual encounters, and marital dissatisfaction. By decoupling female sexuality from virtue, these anthologies laid the groundwork for complex narratives where characters openly negotiate their sexual boundaries outside the boundaries of traditional monogamy. Cultural Backlash and the Dichotomy of the Audience

In this world, an open relationship is a contradiction in terms. If you look at another person, you are a character flaw (looking at you, Kabir Singh ). The narrative punishes exploration. Monogamy isn’t just a choice; it’s the entire moral compass.

Modern Bollywood has moved beyond the "first sight" romance. Contemporary storylines now focus on the gray areas of dating, often portraying characters who seek emotional fulfillment outside traditional boundaries or choose to explore relationships without the pressure of a "forever" commitment.

Perhaps the most prominent exploration of infidelity and the blurring lines of commitment. It moved away from the "villainous cheater" trope to show how emotional voids lead to external seeking.