Love, for real

Gurnaaz Kaur

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It’ll be right to say that Bollywood and romance are inseparable. During our growing up years, most of us imagined love as butterflies in the stomach, hand-in-hand walks in rain with your partner, romantic dinners and so much more. If in Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge Shah Rukh Khan’s character, Rahul, falls in love with Simran (Kajol) on a holiday in Europe and then goes to Punjab to win her family over, in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai we learnt a new definition of love — pyaar dosti hai.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali showcased the passionate love story of Ram (Ranveer Singh) and Leela (Deepika Padukone), who belong to a rival family, in Ram Leela. And not to forget, the pure intense love story of Aditya Roy Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor in Aashiqui 2. There are countless movies that have shaped our perception of love. But how do those in the entertainment industry define love in real life? We ask them about their idea of a perfect Valentine’s Day and how they celebrate it.

Wine & dine

The blue-eyed-boy of Bollywood Akshay Oberoi, who is winning hearts with his performance as the emotional, affable, Basheer Khan in Fighter, says, “My wife and I would cook a meal together, have a glass of wine and then enjoy the food. We will talk about life and how we’ve spent these years, grown up together and all things that excite us. For me, love is someone who brings out the best version of you and helps you evolve. That’s how the romance stays forever, else it’s very fleeting.”

Sreejita De, best known for her role Mukta Rathore in the show Uttaran, got married to her German boyfriend Michael Blohm Pape last year. “We are quite private and love to spend time together, so having a nice candle-light dinner in my balcony with some good food and nice music, our dogs around, is a perfect evening for us. I think love is an everyday phenomenon of making your loved ones feel valued.”

Punjab’s Ihana Dhillon, who has made a place for herself in the Hindi film industry, says, “To be at a secluded location with my loved one, chatting all night over a candle-light dinner is my idea of Valentine’s Day. For me, there has to be chemistry and that longing to be with your partner.”

Being together

Junooniyatt actress Aishwarya Sakhuja says, “With time the idea of love and romance changes. I have been with Rohit for 15 years. Earlier going out for fancy meals would excite me, but now just snuggling with him, watching our favourite film, having some really good food, being comfortable in pyjamas is the ideal Valentine’s Day.”

Udaariyan-fame Isha Malviya won hearts with her stint in Bigg Boss 17 but celebrating Valentine’s Day is not her idea of love. “I don’t believe in this day because I feel loved ones should be made to feel special every day. And why just one person? I would rather do something special for my parents whom I love the most in this world or anyone else who is close to me.”