From romance to remorse: As Twinkle Khanna jokes about tattoos outlasting marriages, many open up about erasing their ex’s name

As Kajol teased Twinkle over this, the latter responded with her signature wit: “Nothing is permanent in life. Tattoos are, marriages are not. I don’t want any tattoo — later I’ll have to change it,” leaving everyone on set in splits.

While the exchange drew laughs, Twinkle’s words struck a chord with many who have learned this lesson the hard way — through painful tattoo removals, expensive cover-ups, and the emotional weight of carrying the name of an ex on their body.

When Ponaxi Nunisa, 27, got her partner’s name tattooed, it seemed like the ultimate romantic gesture. “It felt romantic at the time, like something people in love do. I wasn’t being dramatic; just thought it was a sweet, permanent kind of gesture,” she recalls. Then comes the punchline: “Spoiler: permanence and relationships don’t always go hand in hand.”

She’s not alone. Across tattoo studios in India, artists are witnessing a steady stream of clients seeking to erase inked declarations of love that did not stand the test of time. What begins as a symbol of eternal devotion often ends up as an uncomfortable reminder of relationships past — one that many are eager to remove or transform.

The numbers don’t lie

Mumbai-based Denzil Clement, director of Denzil Art Services, sees this pattern regularly. “It’s surprisingly common – at least five to eight clients come in every month wanting a partner’s name covered or removed. Over the years, I have seen more cover-ups than new name tattoos,” he says. “Earlier, it was mostly young boys after breakups. Now, it’s men and women of all ages. Social media trends and celebrity influences play a big role in both getting and regretting such tattoos.”

Yogesh Pai, who runs Psy Tattoos in Mumbai, offers a slightly different perspective: “Less than 5 per cent of the tattoos we do are couple tattoos or dedicated tattoos wherein clients ink their partner’s name. With the arrival of fast dating and dating apps in recent years, the trend has definitely seen a dip.”

Both artists nevertheless confirm that when such tattoos do get inked, regret often follows — sometimes with dramatic consequences.

Tattoo artist Yogesh Pai shared an image of his client’s tattoo, where he did 3 cover ups (Source: Yogesh Pai)

Path to regret

For Shobhit Tripathi, 29, the decision came early in his relationship. “I got her name tattooed just two months into the relationship. At that time, it felt genuine and heartfelt. Looking back, maybe it was impulsive, but there was no show-off. It was just love, plain and simple.”

The tattoo’s meaning evolved as the relationship progressed. “When things were good, I was proud of it. It felt like proof of how real our bond was. During fights, it reminded me of why we were together,” Shobhit says. “But after we broke up, that same tattoo started feeling out of place. The same friends who once said it was romantic began calling it stupid. That stung, but I could see their point.”

For Ponaxi, the shift was equally jarring. “Back then, I thought it was cute. After the breakup, not so much. It started feeling like I was stuck in a rerun of a show I didn’t want to watch anymore.”

The decision to remove the tattoo became inevitable. “Honestly, seeing it every day felt like reading old texts you should have deleted. Covering it up was more about peace of mind. The laser hurt less than the breakup, so that’s saying something,” she adds.

Beyond the personal pain, there is often a social dimension to these tattoos. Shobhit’s family dynamics added another layer of complexity: “My family has never been okay with tattoos, so I used to hide it under my watch when I visited home. They were disappointed when they found out. My college friends, on the other hand, thought it was the most romantic thing ever. Now they tease me about it and call it my ‘life lesson in ink’.”

Ponaxi faced her own share of commentary. “Oh, everyone had something to say. My friends roasted me for weeks. My sister gave me that classic ‘you never listen’ look. I deserved both, to be fair.”

When more things go wrong

Atul Sharma shares a particularly harrowing story about his friend’s experience. The tattoo itself was inked through sheer pressure: “He was madly in love with that girl. One of our friends got the name of his dog tattooed on his arm, and when this girl got to know about it, she said, ‘Look at him. He has the name of his dog. What would you do for me?’ And the next day, he got a carpet design on his arm. It was a huge one with a fairy and her name covering his arm.”

Much later, the process of removing the tattoo turned into a nightmare. “It could have gone off in four-five sittings, but he developed an infection and it got worse. He could not work due to it and had to quit his job. He was emotionally down when all this happened. He was depressed and had to seek medical help,” Atul says. “A skin condition did not allow him to cover it. He was homebound for a year as the doctor told him to avoid going outside due to the risk of infection.”

The emotional impact was even more profound. “He was fixated on the tattoo because of the pain it caused him physically, and it also amplified his emotional pain. His perception of women changed a lot, and he only believed in one-night stands after that. He has had some casual relationships but could not bring himself to trust anyone,” says Atul, adding, “He does not like to talk about it at all, and we respect that.”

Creative transformations

Not all cover-up stories end in trauma. Clement has witnessed some creative solutions. “One client turned her ex’s name, Rahul, into a cute puppy. She later joked that her dog turned out to be her real true love. Another wanted to transform a matching couple tattoo into a phoenix rising from the ashes, symbolising a new start.”

Then there’s the humorous mishap: “A boy wanted his ‘mom’s’ name tattooed. A few days later, his furious parents stormed in. Turns out, the name wasn’t his mother’s at all, but his teacher’s! He had a huge crush on her. Later, we had to cover it with his actual mother’s name.”

Pai has his own memorable case: “A client who has done three cover-ups with us.”

Calendar of regret

Both artists confirm that tattoo removal requests follow seasonal patterns. “Certain times of the year see a clear spike. February and March, after Valentine’s Day, are peak regret season,” Clement notes. “There is also an uptick post-wedding season when relationships fall apart. Around New Year’s, many come in seeking a ‘fresh start,’ and removing a name tattoo is often part of that emotional reset.”

Pai agrees: “Definitely, Valentine’s Day, partners’ birthdays, pre-wedding season, etc, are times when these requests spike.”

For Shobhit Tripathi, 29, the decision to get his partner’s name tattooed came early in his relationship. (Source: Shobhit Tripathi)

Artist’s perspective

Tattoo artists have developed strategies to handle these emotionally charged sessions. “Most clients start off emotional or embarrassed but end up relieved. Some even laugh about their choices,” says Clement. “For many, the cover-up brings closure. It is a way to reclaim their body and story. You can almost see the weight lift off their face once the new design takes shape.”

Pai emphasises creating a safe space: “It is very subjective. It depends on how the couple split. In either case, we create a judgment-free zone and try to keep our customers as comfortable as possible. A lot of them end up sharing their stories. It is almost a therapy session for them.”

Both artists also try to steer clients away from name tattoos. “I always advise people to think twice before getting a partner’s name tattooed. Go for something symbolic – initials, coordinates, or a design that represents the bond. Some listen, but love makes people impulsive. Proof of love should be love itself, not a tattoo,” Clement advises.

Pai takes a similar approach: Some take our advice, some don’t. If they insist, we try to convince them either to get a symbolic tattoo instead of the name itself – sun tattoo if your partner’s name is Suraj – or something else altogether.”

Looking back

Today, both Ponaxi and Shobhit view their experiences with mixed emotions. “It was a mistake when I got it, a lesson when I removed it, and now just a funny story I tell to remind myself that I have evolved, or at least, I like to think so,” says Ponaxi.

Shobhit is also moving towards closure. “It was a mistake because it was rushed, a lesson in thinking long-term, and a memory of a time when I loved without overthinking. I have decided to get it removed on my birthday this year. Feels like the right time to let it go.”

“After the breakup, it became a constant reminder of something that had ended. I knew I had to move on. Keeping her name didn’t make sense anymore, especially when I think about building a new life with someone else. Getting it removed feels like a clean break, emotionally more than physically,” Shobhit adds.

Perhaps Twinkle Khanna was onto something with her witty remark. The lesson here isn’t just about tattoos — it is about the difference between love as a feeling and love as a permanent mark. In the end, the best proof of love might just be love itself, not the ink that tries to capture it.