Your Privacy is Important to us

We encourage you to review our Terms of Service, and Privacy Policy.

By continuing, you agree to the Terms listed here. In case you want to opt out, please click "Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information" link in the footer of this page.

Opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information

We won't sell or share your personal information to inform the ads you see. You may still see interest-based ads if your information is sold or shared by other companies or was sold or shared previously.

Continue on TOI App
Open App
Login for better experience!
Login Now
Welcome! to timesofindia.com
TOI INDTOI USTOI GCC
TOI+
  • Home
  • Live
  • TOI Games
  • Top Headlines
  • India
  • City News
  • Photos
  • Business
  • Real Estate
  • Entertainment
  • Movie Reviews
  • Lifestyle
  • Podcasts
  • Elections
  • Web Series
  • Sports
  • TV
  • Food
  • Travel
  • Events
  • World
  • Music
  • Astrology
  • Videos
  • Tech
  • Auto
  • Education
  • Log Out
Follow Us On
Open App
  • ETIMES
  • CINEMA
  • VIDEOS
  • TV
  • LIFESTYLE
  • VISUAL STORIES
  • MUSIC
  • TRAVEL
  • FOOD
  • TRENDING
  • EVENTS
  • THEATRE
  • PHOTOS
  • MOVIE REVIEWS
  • MOVIE LISTINGS
  • HEALTH
  • RELATIONSHIP
  • WEB SERIES
  • BOX OFFICE

​5 rom com clichés that are far removed from reality!​

TOI Lifestyle Desk
| ETimes.in | Last updated on - Aug 28, 2025, 21:00 IST
Comments
Share
1/6

5 rom com clichés that are far removed from reality!

In a crowded college lab, two students who once hated each other with all their heart found themselves studying side by side,their irritation slowly transformed into laughter, friendship-and eventually something that felt like the beginning of love. Filmy enough ,right? Now imaging a young woman nursing the sting of a lost beauty pageant felt invisible in a noisy auditorium-until someone decides to sit beside her- no dramatic confessions, no pick up lines,just genuine kindness boxed in a simple moment. These glimpses of real romance reveal how love is often far quieter, messier, and more beautifully imperfect than the tales that play out on movie screens. Real love is less about perfect timing and more about patient, unpolished unfolding.Here are five romcom moments that we often fall for but do they really make sense ?

2/6

Enemies-to-lovers overnight

Classic enemies turned to lovers is one of the favourite plots for romcom lovers. Many movies depict relationships that start with hate or rivalry and then quickly morph into passionate love. This 360-degree shift rarely mirrors reality, where misunderstandings need time, communication, and empathy to resolve. In real life, it takes so much effort from both parties to come to a mutual point where they can actively work through issues to build trust. The stereotype risks glamorizing toxic dynamics, where conflict is mistaken for passion rather than a sign to address deeper problems.


3/6

The ‘charming guy’ who always sounds interesting

Rom-com leads often have perfect timing with compliments, honesty, and insight, making them endlessly lovable. In contrast, real people fumble between conversations, make mistakes, their tongue gets rolled while speaking the perfect word to impress, and still not always say the right thing. Expecting flawless communication puts unnecessary pressure on partners and undervalues the messiness bound to come in real relationships. When people fall in love, the adrenaline rush makes anyone nervous, and expecting ‘perfection’ is nothing but an unrealistic trap people frame for themselves. Love is more about willingness to listen and grow than delivering perfect lines.

4/6

Relationships progress rapidly,no boring days

Films often show couples from first meeting to engagement or living together in days or weeks, with no long awkward phases or routine struggles shown. Real relationships include mundane moments, disagreements, vulnerability, and negotiating differences before actually starting with the ‘good day’. The fast-paced hunky-dory life shown in movies takes years in reality to actually come true. Rushing through these phases can lead to misunderstandings or unmet expectations. Romantic comedies often skip important emotional labor, giving an incomplete picture of what truly being in love looks like.

5/6

The airport chase and grand confession

Running through crowded airport terminals to catch a departing love interest while shouting heartfelt confessions is iconic in rom-coms. In real life, security restrictions, boarding passes, and logistics make such dramatic chases virtually impossible. Even if someone made it to the gate, the moment would likely be awkward, stressful, and disorganized-not a perfectly timed cinematic climax. Love declarations tend to be far more private, subtle, and less convenient, showing that real romance isn’t about racing against a clock but nurturing steady connections.

6/6

Love makes people complete and instantly happy

Romantic films suggest that finding ‘the one’ immediately fills emotional voids and solves loneliness. Real emotional fulfillment is complex and personal, often requiring self-growth and inner work beyond external relationships. While love enriches life, it is not a cure for personal struggles or unhappiness. Counting on romance for instant happiness can foster codependency and unrealistic expectations.


Start a Conversation

Post comment
Featured In lifestyle
  • Indian Railways launches first Bharat Gaurav Tourist train to Nepal: Route, fare, itinerary and what travellers should know
  • 10 ways to stay calm under pressure, as per psychology
  • From Sapera to Irulas: Famous snake tribes of India and why they fascinate travellers from the world over
  • Timeless poetry of the day by William Shakespeare: “Take all my loves, my love, yea, take them all...”
  • Love quote of the day by Maya Angelou: "First best is falling in love, second best is..."
  • Nepal Embassy offers free travel to Indian content creators: Eligibility criteria, trip details, and how to apply before May 31 2026
  • Kylie Jenner's home is where old Hollywood glam meets neutral calm: Art inspirations to take away
  • 7 foods to always keep in the freezer and why
  • Art quote of the day by Oscar Wilde: “God and other artists are always a little obscure”
Photostories
  • 10 ways to stay calm under pressure, as per psychology
  • The best flowers, herbs, and vegetables to plant in June in the UK
  • From Sapera to Irulas: Famous snake tribes of India and why they fascinate travellers from the world over
  • 6 beverages a Harvard doctor drinks to keep his gut healthy
  • Love quote of the day by Maya Angelou: "First best is falling in love, second best is..."
  • Kylie Jenner's home is where old Hollywood glam meets neutral calm: Art inspirations to take away
  • "Main khud ek karz..." When PM Narendra Modi thanked tea-garden workers and why he can't enjoy chai like before
  • Why your feet suddenly swell after sitting too long and what your body may be trying to warn you about
  • 7 foods to always keep in the freezer and why
Explore more Stories
  • 11
    10 countries with the highest snake populations and what travellers must know before visiting
  • 6
    5 snake parks in India where travellers can spot rare and venomous species and how to reach them
  • 11
    From snake fruit to jabuticaba; 10 unique fruit trees around the world and where travellers can find them
  • 8
    The best flowers, herbs, and vegetables to plant in June in the UK
  • 5
    From Sapera to Irulas: Famous snake tribes of India and why they fascinate travellers from the world over
Up Next
  • ETimes
  • /
  • Life & Style
  • /
  • Relationships
  • /
  • Love & Sex
  • /
  • ​5 rom com clichés that are far removed from reality!​
About UsTerms Of UsePrivacy PolicyCookie Policy

Copyright © May 21, 2026, 01.41PM IST Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service