Actor Arjun Bijlani played cupid for Mohit Sehgal and Sanaya Irani: Can friends really influence love?

DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. 

He admitted that initially Sanaya did not pay attention to Mohit’s advances, adding, “Haan, shuruwaat mein, toh dheere dheere usko bhi realise ho gaya, haan yeh (Mohit) bahut hi pyaara hai (Yes, in the beginning, slowly he also realised that yes, this (Mohit) is really very sweet).” Arjun continued, “Beech mein unka thoda waisa ho raha tha ki woh shayad mana kar rahi hai; she didn’t understand, uska bhi, she also had a boyfriend. Toh woh waisa wala scene tha ki karein na karein, confused si thi, toh maine kaha usko ki bhai acha ladka hai (In between, it was kind of like she was maybe refusing; she didn’t understand, and she also had a boyfriend. So it was that kind of situation: should she go ahead or not? She was confused. So I told her that he’s a good guy).”

Can playing ‘cupid’ sometimes push people into decisions they may not be ready for?

Psychologist Rasshi Gurnani tells indianexpress.com, “Friends often play a big role in shaping how people see relationships, especially in the early stages. From a psychological viewpoint, peer influence can work both ways. On one hand, encouragement from a trusted friend can help someone overcome hesitation caused by fear, self-doubt, or past experiences.” 

In such cases, she adds that the friend acts as a positive “mirror,” helping the person see qualities in a potential partner they might otherwise overlook. But influence should never become pressure. When friends push too strongly, the person may agree out of compliance rather than genuine readiness, which can later create imbalance and regret.

 

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A healthy way for both partners to arrive at clarity without external pressure

When one partner feels sure while the other is hesitant, the healthiest way forward is open, honest dialogue without deadlines or pressure. Psychologically, clarity comes from self-reflection and authentic communication, not from external voices. 

“An unsure person needs space to explore whether their hesitation comes from lack of attraction, unresolved personal issues, or simply fear of commitment. The invested partner, meanwhile, benefits from practicing patience and setting boundaries, rather than trying to ‘convince.’ This approach protects both individuals’ autonomy and prevents resentment from building,” shares Gurnani. 

DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to.