Voices Anand Neelakantan Ravi Shankar Utkarsh Amitabh Ajai Sahni Anuja Chandramouli Mata Amritanandamayi MAGAZINE Buffet People Wellness Books Food Art & Culture Entertainment NEW DELHI april 13 2025 SUNDAY PAGES 12 I t e c h -t o n i c s h i f t s By Konkana Ray t’s the age of love. Or, is it? AI chatbots are seizing the language of the fluttering heart to craft perfect conversations, ensuring every text sparkles with digital charm. Every notification is a modern serenade as cutting-edge technology helps lovers navigate beautiful chaos with a yearning for a deeply personal connection. Psychologist Dr Ishita Mukerji observes, “Everybody these days, single or married, says love has changed. It used to be about small, thoughtful gestures, like love letters, poems, and spontaneous dates. Today many relationships feel robotic, lacking , that genuine essence we once felt.” She blames self-centred culture, where busy schedules and endless digital distractions leave little room for the rituals of courtship that cement a bond. Even though algorithms match us based on personality traits and interests, research scholar Shreya laments, “With scores of digital tools now available, options for potential partners may have increased, yet romance is not always well earned, and courting has taken a back seat.” Yet, in this tech-savvy landscape, there are contrarians. Filmmaker and producer Atri Kundu gives a reflective nod to the changing times, “As I’m approaching my 30s, I find love and dating more taxing. Thoughts of career and pending bills rarely leave time for leisure and when they do, I want to invest where the returns are guaranteed such as, travelling.” Even as AI offers seemingly perfect dating options, genuine connection is a bond no algorithm can fully make. This year offers a glitter-bomb of hope. Pracheta Mazumdar, Senior Marketing Manager, Bumble, remarks, “Every year, we ask our global community for their views on dating, new behaviours, and what they want and need in the year to come. 2025 will be a transitional year for dating since we’re seeing a big shift towards real-ness”. Relationship expert Ruchi Ruhh, agrees “Dating in 2025 feels like a return to authenticity What’s most . exciting is the shift among women in India. Over half of Indian women are self-proclaimed romantics who love ‘love’. They no longer compromise on values that truly matter. It’s a powerful evolution with women being in charge of creating connections that honour their needs and aspirations.” For some, modern love is a perfect cocktail—one part serendipity , another part deliberate choice, combined with the right timing. Bride-to-be Dr Prachi Aditya who is marrying her MBBS classmate narrates, “With Dev, everything just made sense—it felt real. In a world full of endless chaos and options, being with him made all the noise fade away .” “With Dev, everything just made sense—it felt real. In a world full of endless chaos and options, being with him made all the noise fade away.” Dr Prachi Aditya For bride-to-be Prachi, who is marrying her MBBS classmate Dr Devender Tewatia, modern love is a perfect cocktail—one part serendipity, one part deliberate choice, and just the right timing Love in the Age of Algorithms A nother major shift is unfolding—some people are officially breaking up with dating apps. Copywriter Akanksha Holani expresses, “Even chronic swipers and paid superlikers are also starting to see the beauty of old-school romance.” Face-to-face interactions are coming back. Matchmaker Shalini Singh notes, “Dating is evolving as singles seek a balance between tech-driven efficiency and authentic, in-person connections. People in their late 20s to 50s are craving intentional, slow-paced dating that feels less transactional and more human-centred.” Speed dating and singles mixer events are popping up across India, offering a refreshing alternative to digital fatigue. In-person meetups provide real chemistry , something that apps simply cannot. Intimacy coach Aili Seghetti, states, “People are starved for human connection, strong emotions, and falling in love. The online world is fast, but its commodifying nature makes daters feel like they’re wasting their time.” Seghetti highlights that true chemistry cannot be gauged through perfectly curated profiles or witty chat exchanges. “Mutual chemistry is based on pheromones, the senses, and body language, and not photos or chatting,” she explains. While digital interactions help to assess compatibility in values and interests, that electric, can’t-stop-thinkingabout-you feeling happens only in person. Of course, attraction alone isn’t the golden ticket to lasting love. Long-term, emotional literacy attachment styles, and shared goals , come into play—things that take time to unfold, no matter how bright the initial spark was. Copywriter Anurag Kanojia believes that a successful relationship is built on intention and effort. He shares, “My wife and I share similar expectations. We plan date nights, binge-watch shows, travel, and surprise each other, while enjoying our own space. It’s a balance of togetherness and individuality In .” today’s day and age, compatibility isn’t just about shared interests but also about maintaining a balance between togetherness and individuality . Evolving romance is also about rethinking long-held traditions. Content Developer Simran Anand, whose wedding story defied conventional norms, expresses, “Before marriage, I stayed at my partner’s place on the weekends and whenever the opportunity arose, to familiarise myself with how he is in his home, his family dynamics, how their household works, etc. We broke another traditional rule by choosing a wedding that reflected our true selves—I wore an ivory coloured lehenga, not the customary red, which sparked quite a debate at home,” she recalls. In this brave new world, the rules are being rewritten by the very people who live them. Matchmaker Reema Dala acknowledges that finding ‘the one’ is overly romanticised in movies and novels; “No single person can perfectly fulfil every expectation.” As young and not-so-young India navigate the ever-changing landscape of the heart, it is clear that although the methods may have evolved from handwritten love letters to AI-curated dating profiles, the fundamental human desire to be seen, understood, and cherished remains unchanged. AI and hi-tech are rewriting the rules of romance with flirty icebreakers, optimised profiles, and predictions of compatibility with acute precision. In this hyper technology-driven age, love isn’t left to fate; it is a carefully curated journey where data-driven matchmaking meets digital serendipity I Futureproofing n a whirlwind of swipes and uncertainties, futureproofing is emerging as the quintessential romance hack. This is a dating strategy that involves asking the right questions and guiding the conversation in a direction to understand if the relationship can sail the long-term tide. Imagine laying all your cards on the table right from the get-go: chatting about everything from your happiest life moments to your take on financial stability and long-term goals. According to Bumble’s 2024 research, a whopping 94 per cent of single Indians say future worries shape their dating choices. Communication Professional, Sristhi Jain, says, “I believe future-proofing relationships is a great way to proactively build a connection with long-term compatibility in mind. It’s not about rushing into judgments after one or two dates, but gradually opening up and letting shared values align and shine through.” Instead of fleeting encounters, future-proofing encourages asking deep yet playful questions. Whether for romance or friendship, this approach paves the way for connections designed to last—a refreshing antidote in a world where commitment often seems as transient as a swipe. “Before marriage, I stayed at my partner’s place on weekends and whenever the opportunity sprung, in order to familiarise myself with how he is at his home, his family dynamics, how their household works, etc.” Simran Anand, Content Developer Simran believes that evolving romance is also about rethinking long-held traditions. Her wedding with Kabir Baruah defied conventional norms Micro-mance A Distance makes the Heart Grow Fonder I n this hyper-connected world, long-distance relationships are becoming less of a compromise and more of a lifestyle choice. With FaceTime and Zoom making virtual closeness a breeze, love is merrily flourishing across cities, countries and even continents without forcing anyone to put their career on hold. Gone are the days when pursuing someone meant uprooting your life; now, busy professionals relish the art of staying connected with their sweethearts despite the miles. Even when living in the same city, demanding schedules often confine couples to weekend catch-ups, which is why many aren’t letting distance pull them apart. As one anonymous software developer narrates, “My boyfriend and I have been together for six years, with four of those spent in different cities. Honestly, our time apart has renewed my faith in love. Meeting biannually for a few weeks felt like the best days of our lives, where every moment was cherished; togetherness turned into treasured memories of a lifetime.” In a world where life’s pace often pulls us in different directions, long-distance relationships are proving that love doesn’t have to be local as long as it’s real, and the efforts from both lovers are perpetual. s the world steers back towards romance, grand gestures are taking a back seat to the charm of micro-mance—a playful portmanteau that celebrates small, thoughtful acts of love. Couples are now delighting in the everyday magic of little moments like sharing a well-timed meme, preparing a personalised playlist, a cute handmade card, breakfast in bed or even an unexpected food delivery during a busy day. Bumble’s 2024 survey shows that 57 per cent of women in India proudly wear their romantic hearts on their sleeves, and for one in three, a lack of everyday romance can leave a sour taste. In fact, 92 per cent of single Indians agree that love is better expressed through quirky, intimate moments. As HR Manager Jasmine shares, “Not everything is about big romantic gestures. What’s more important is how someone acts when you’re down or how they cheer you up without a prompt. Even the smallest gesture, like receiving your favourite flowers, can brighten your day and strengthen your bond.” Micro-mance reminds us that sometimes, the tiniest tokens of affection can create the most lasting connections. “As I’m approaching my 30s, I find love and dating more taxing now. Thoughts of career and pending bills rarely leave time for leisure and when they do, I want to invest it where the returns are guaranteed i.e., travelling.” Atri Kundu, filmmaker In this tech-savvy landscape, there are still those who balance digital convenience with old-school warmth. Atri believes that even as AI offers us seemingly perfect dating options, genuine connection remains an art—one that no algorithm can fully capture Turn to page 2