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Journalism of Courage
Actors Vicky Kaushal and Kriti Sanon recently joined Kajol and Twinkle Khanna on the talk show Two Much With Kajol and Twinkle. During a light-hearted segment called ‘This or That,’ an interesting debate unfolded when Twinkle asked, “Marriage should have an expiry date and a renewal option?”
While Vicky, Kriti, and Twinkle disagreed and stood in the red zone, Kajol took a bold stand and moved to the green zone, explaining, “I definitely think so. What says you will get married to the right person at the right time? So, you should have a renewal option. And if there’s an expiry date, then we don’t have to suffer for too long.”
Twinkle countered Kajol’s view, saying, “No, it’s marriage, it’s not a washing machine.” Kriti then chimed in with humour, adding, “If she is okay with that option, then ghar par toh chaandi hai.”
Kajol’s remarks raise an important question: should relationships come with the freedom to reassess, renew, or even end without judgment or stigma?
Jai Arora, counselling psychologist and co-founder of Kirana Counselling, tells indianexpress.com, “People evolve through different life stages, careers shift, priorities change, and emotional needs deepen. A couple that fit well in their 20s may not remain aligned in their 30s or 40s. Long-term compatibility depends on how two people adapt to each other’s growth, not on the initial match. Hence, choosing the right person can’t be a one-time event, but a constant struggle, challenge and play.”
A “renewal option” can actually push couples to stay emotionally awake in the relationship. Instead of coasting, Arora notes that partners may check in more honestly about their needs, communication, and shared direction. It reframes marriage as an active choice you make again and again, paradoxically strengthening and healing the bond.
Arora explains, “Relationships evolve and change with time. The partner who shouldered all the household responsibilities, in another season of life, they may find out about a terminal illness. This calls for change and flexibility in the relationship and the roles both parties play.”
The balance, he says, lies in seeing marriage as a long-term partnership that needs adaptation, not blind permanence. When couples accept that relationships evolve, they can honour commitment without denying the reality that some bonds naturally change or end.
Arora states that staying in a relationship that no longer works slowly wears people down. It can create “chronic resentment, emotional fatigue, self-doubt, and even depression.”
The key is not to ignore all the little things. “We usually sense it when smth is not quite working right, communicating from the beginning helps. A ‘renewal’ mindset can give them a structured pause to either consciously rebuild their bond or part ways with dignity, instead of stretching unhappiness over years,” concludes the expert.
