Movies inspired by live-in relationships

Live-in relationships have been a very sensitive topic, more on the lines of a taboo in India. Indians believe when two people are in love, marriage is the next step before moving in together. A live-in relationship is more like a tester act, in case you have any doubt of your ability to survive with your beau for the rest of your life; it can also come in handy if you’re a commitment wuss. Even though Kangana Ranaut and Imran Khan’s upcoming film Katti Batti shows the lead characters in a live-in relationship, the film is not essentially about it. Nikhil Advani’s Katti Batti is much more than that. The live-in part has just been used as a premise for the story. However this is not the first film that has showcased such a scenario; we have compiled a list of other films in the past that shed light on the live-in phenomenon...

Arth:
The first movie that showcased the concept of a live-in relationship was Mahesh Bhatt’s Arth. The movie was way ahead of its time as it was made in 1982. The movie was actually an autobiographical representation of Mahesh Bhatt’s relationship with Parveen Babi. The starcast included Shabana Azmi, Khulbushan Kharbanda, Smita Patil, Raj Kiran and Rohini Hattangadi. The story revolves around Shabana Azmi, whose life is torn apart when she finds out about her husband’s (Khulbushan Kharbanda) relationship with Smita Patil who he has been living while he is married to Shabana.

Salaam Namaste:
Salaam Namaste used the live-in relationship concept and brought Priety Zinta and Saif Ali Khan together. Salaam Namaste depicts the lives of two commitment-phobic individuals who eventually end up living together to see whether the relationship is worth giving a try and how eventually end up with a baby. The point that the movie puts across is sometimes certain things lead to warding off the commitment phobia that builds a relationship in the first place.

Fashion:
Fashion is a movie written and directed by Madhur Bhandarkar which majorly focuses on the fashion industry and the life of a model. However, in the movie, Madhur shows the protagonist Priyanka Chopra, starts living with her onscreen boyfriend Arjan Bajwa. Although, this segment is not elaborately covered in the movie but it does harp on the live-in relationship phenomenon.

Pyaar Ka Punchnama:
The movie Pyaar Ka Punchnama revolves around 3 bachelors who find love and face various consequences because of love. In the movie, Rajat falls in love with Neha and moves in with her leaving his other two bachelor friends. However, hell breaks loose when they move in together because of Neha’s constant tantrums. The movie shows how inconsiderate Neha is towards Rajat’s emotions and contribution towards the relationship. Neha and Rajat eventually part ways because of massive differences. Again, the “whole trail and buy” thought is brought up here.

Cocktail:
The Saif-Deepika-Diana starrer Cocktail received mixed reviews from the audience for its quirky theme, again focussing on live-in relationships. Initially Saif Ali Khan lusts Deepika Padulone and the latter is cool with it, which is why they move in together to enjoy a quickie everyday (wink wink) whilst Diana Penty who plays a traditional Indian girl is already living with Deepika. As the plot thickens, Diana tugs Saif’s interest. While the the movie is essentially about a no strings attached relationship, eventually love walks in and creates a triangle between Saif, Deepika and Diana.

Shuddh Desi Romance:
The story of Shuddh Desi Romance is again a story on live-in relationships where the protagonist, Sushant Singh Rajput, is a relationship scared freak who doesn’t wish to hold himself back because of matrimony. He is smitten by Parineeti’s independent and forward nature. They run away together and start living in. When people begin to object to their unconventional approach, they get married. As a result Parineeti is petrified and she breaks away from the marriage. The whole sprinting game finally ends when Sushant Singh and Parineeti decide to continue living together without getting married.