‘Neta ke haath mein mic nahi dena chahiye’: Ajay Devgn teases Ravi Kishan after hearing about his daily ritual of touching wife’s feet; is putting a partner on a pedestal healthy?

His comment had the audience in splits, and even Ravi Kishan couldn’t hold back his laughter, jumping off his seat. Interestingly, in a previous interview with Entertainment Times, Ravi had explained the reason behind this daily ritual, saying he does it because his wife is the Laxmi of their home and he wants to acknowledge her role in his success.

But, is it healthy in a relationship when one partner consistently puts the other on a pedestal or adopts ritualistic behaviours to express gratitude?

Psychologist Anjali Gursahaney tells indianexpress.com, “Consistently placing a partner on a pedestal or adopting ritualistic behaviours can become unhealthy when it’s rooted in guilt, fear, or a sense of inequality rather than mutual respect. While expressing gratitude and reverence can be beautiful in a relationship, doing so in a rigid, one-sided, or performative manner can create emotional imbalance. It risks reinforcing a dynamic where one partner is elevated and the other diminished, often leading to suppressed needs, unspoken resentment, or unhealthy power dynamics. Authentic intimacy thrives on mutual appreciation, not ritualistic gestures that may stem from obligation or penance.”

How even light-hearted public teasing between men about their romantic gestures may reinforce certain gender stereotypes

According to Gursahaney, “Light-hearted public teasing can unintentionally reinforce traditional gender stereotypes and cultural narratives about masculinity, guilt, and power. When acts of affection or reverence are framed as signs of guilt or weakness, especially among men, it subtly reinforces the idea that vulnerability or emotional expression is unmanly or suspicious.”

These jokes may appear harmless, she says, but they often echo broader societal beliefs that men should assert dominance or suppress softer emotions, thereby discouraging healthy emotional behaviours in relationships.

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