In recent years, Indian cinema has completely bypassed the trope of the "cheating spouse" to explore consensual non-monogamy and fluid relationship dynamics.

The integration of open relationships into Bollywood’s romantic lexicon marks a permanent shift in how Indian cinema conceptualizes love. Filmmakers are no longer bound to the "happily ever after" template of a grand wedding. Instead, success in modern Bollywood romance is increasingly defined by self-discovery, mutual respect, and emotional honesty—even if that means parting ways or choosing an unconventional path. By challenging the exclusivity of the traditional romantic arc, Bollywood is transitioning from a purveyor of escapist fairy tales into a complex, mature chronicler of human connection.

1. From "Sanam" to "Situationships": The Evolution of Bollywood Romance

Modern Bollywood cinema is diversifying the romantic genre, moving beyond the classic "boy meets girl" trope to include themes of mental health, technology, and social resistance. DEPICTION OF ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS IN ... - IJCRT.org

For decades, Bollywood functioned as India’s ultimate romance factory. It manufactured a highly sanitized, aspirational version of love defined by eternal devotion, singular soulmates, and the inevitable triumph of traditional marriage. However, a parallel narrative has emerged over the last decade. As real-world conversations around modern dating dynamics, polyamory, and non-monogamy enter the mainstream, Hindi cinema is undergoing a massive tonal shift.

Though critics panned the film for conflating cheating with polyamory, Gehraiyaan forced urban Indians to Google "relationship anarchy."

: Characters rarely loved twice. If a spouse passed away, the survivor lived a life of celibate mourning.

India is a country where the Ramayana and Mahabharata are moral anchors. While ancient texts had polygamy (kings with multiple wives) and even polyandry (Draupadi), modern interpretations have rigidified into Victorian monogamy. Any deviation is labeled "Western influence."

Whenever a film or celebrity challenges the sanctity of traditional marriage, they face significant pushback. Social media campaigns often call for boycotts of films deemed "against Indian culture." Critics argue that Bollywood is out of touch with the "real India," projecting Western relationship models onto a society that still highly values arranged marriages and lifelong monogamy. The Double Standard for Female Autonomy