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In today’s world of pocketing, ghosting, and slow fading, Gen Z often finds it difficult to navigate the deeper aspects of love, like emotional security, patience, and effort. While Valentine’s Day may have you thinking about grand romantic gestures, deep down, you know the real challenge today lies in maintaining trust, understanding, and commitment in a fast-paced, digital world.
This Valentine’s, Let Bollywood Inspire Your Relationship Gestures
So, this Valentine’s Day, let’s shift the focus from surface-level acts and reflect on how we truly show love in our everyday lives. Surprisingly, Bollywood, often criticized for being overly dramatic, offers some of the most valuable lessons on what real love looks like. These moments from films highlight what’s missing in modern relationships and can inspire Gen Z to redefine love with more meaning and depth.
1. Letting Your Partner Be Themselves- Jab We Met
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Many relationships today fall apart because partners try to change each other rather than accepting them as they are. But Aditya (Shahid Kapoor) did the exact opposite. When he found Geet (Kareena Kapoor Khan) in Manali, she was no longer the bubbly, confident woman she once was. Instead of forcing her to be happy or telling her how to feel, he simply reminded her of who she used to be. In a world where people are often pressured to fit into certain moulds, this act of quiet acceptance is rare but deeply meaningful.
2. Challenging Each Other to Be Better, Tamasha
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Gen Z often fears confrontation in relationships, but real love sometimes means pushing your partner to confront their truth. Tara (Deepika Padukone) saw through Ved’s (Ranbir Kapoor) carefully built facade, challenging him to break free from the lies he had told himself for years. While Ved initially ran away from her, it was this confrontation that eventually led to his growth. Today, relationships often end at the first sign of discomfort, but Tamasha proves that real love isn’t about comfort, it’s about evolution. Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu is another wonderful example of this.
3. Showing Up, Not Just Texting, The Sky Is Pink
With texting, calling, and social media at our fingertips, it’s easy to assume that words are enough to maintain a relationship. But Niren (Farhan Akhtar) proved otherwise. When Aditi (Priyanka Chopra) felt insecure about their relationship, he didn’t just reassure her over a call, he got on a flight to London to be with her. Sometimes, actions speak louder than words, and in an age where digital communication has replaced real effort, this kind of commitment is exactly what many relationships lack.
Similarly, in Laapataa Ladies, when Phool (Nitanshi Goel) became insecure about whether her husband Deepak (Sparsh Shrivastav) would still accept her after their time apart, he wasn’t there to reassure her with words at that moment. Instead, he searched for her, found her, and brought her home without hesitation. Without saying a word, he erased all her doubts. In a world where reassurance is often fleeting and temporary, Deepak’s silent yet steadfast commitment stands as a powerful reminder of what true love truly means.
5. Breaking Gender Norms for Love, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani
Many relationships today struggle with rigid expectations, who should sacrifice more, who should compromise, who should lead. But Rocky (Ranveer Singh) flipped the norms by doing what society has always expected women to do, he left his home to live with Rani’s (Alia Bhatt) family, proving that love isn’t about dominance but about partnership. In an era where equality in relationships is still evolving, his gesture is a powerful reminder that compromise isn’t a weakness but a strength.
6. Supporting Your Partner’s Growth, 12th Fail & Ok Jaanu
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Today, partners unintentionally limit each other’s growth, however, true love is all about fostering each other's growth, even when it requires stepping outside of one's own comfort zone. A perfect example of this is Tu Jhoothi Main Makkar, where Mickey (Ranbir Kapoor) uses Tinni’s (Shraddha Kapoor) promotion and transfer as an excuse to end their relationship and engagement, instead of supporting her and embracing the opportunity for both to grow together.
In OK Jaanu, Aditya (Aditya Roy Kapur) and Tara (Shraddha Kapoor) demonstrate a relationship rooted in mutual support and understanding, where love allows each person to flourish without holding the other back. Similarly, in 12th Fail, Manoj (Vikrant Massey) and Shraddha (Medha Shankar) provide each other with encouragement during their own struggles. Rather than letting personal challenges drive them apart, they used these moments to strengthen their bond and grow together.
Views expressed by the author are their own.