WHAT IS LOVE

Love in 2025 certainly goes beyond traditional roles. Earlier relationships followed rigid gender expectations-men were providers, women were nurturers. But today, love is a choice, not compulsion.

- NAMRATA KOHLI

It's the season of love—the month of Valentine's. However, the madness was palpably missing this year on February 14, at least in the capital city, for some strange reason. While on my way to attend a fireside chat with Karan Johar at New Delhi's luxury hotel known for its old-world charm (as part of the Indian Chambers of Commerce (ICC) centenary celebrations), I was wondering if the old-world charm of "love" has worn away by the visibly thanda-looking Dilli roads. I was still registering the general lack of Valentine's Day fervor when the host introduced KJo, saying, "I want to thank Karan for taking out time even on a Valentine's Day," to which KJo replied in his characteristic witty style, "which, by the way, doesn't speak volumes about my love life." The man who taught the world how to love through his romantic movies said he was happiest being single and skipping marriage for kids—"In my personal life, I was smart and skipped that part to the best part of having children. Being single, you have zero baggage, no drama, and multiple options; what's not to celebrate?? Happy Valentine's Day."

That set me thinking about the changing concept of love and how there is almost a "love churn" in our society. Today, self-love is prioritized before romantic love. People believe in healing, setting boundaries, and leaving toxic relationships instead of staying out of obligation. And relationships are more fluid—people re-