Let's be honest, we've all grown up watching a princess getting rescued by her prince and then they have their happily ever after. And as much as we like to think that that's how real life is too, unfortunately, it is not. Instead of being realistic, we've started depending on TV shows and movies to show us what the 'ideal' partner should be like. Psychosocial analyst, Dr Aman Bhonsle, says, “We have a stake in the fantasy world of films and soaps, where we participate in happy ceremonies, perfect locations, etc. This increases our expectations from relationships subconsciously.” Here are some good and bad influences of the reel-life.
- “Some shows can become excellent ice breakers to start a conversation, where they can relate to each other as friends. The foundation of robust relationships is based on an even more robust friendship,” says Bhonsle.
- “The concept of a soulmate has been so overdone in Indian and Western movies. People assume that their Mr/Mrs Perfect will fall from the sky. They forget the importance of communication and companionship when it comes to resolving an issue, and conclude that their partner is not their ‘soulmate’ without addressing issues.”
- “It is possible for a couple to feel bored of each other. People start feeling like they have seen every facet of each other’s personalities — met their friends, have gone to various places, restaurants and holidays. In such cases, on-screen romances, where love often lasts forever, helps give a new lease of life.”
- “People often compare their partners, relationships and marriages with on-screen characters, thus disregarding the reality and trying to live in the fantasy world, which results in having unrealistic expectations from their partner.”
- “Women are either shown as a helpless soul or as a strong feminist, which is far from reality. Men, on the other hand, are not supposed to have emotions or cry on screen. These misconceptions affect relationships.”
