Here is the irony. Bollywood loves the thrill of open relationships but hates the admin. In Dil Chahta Hai, Akash (Aamir Khan) sleeps with his friend’s ex. In Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, Ranbir literally has a song about loving one woman while being physical with others.
Bollywood has no problem with multiple sexual partners—as long as it's drama. As long as there is lying, crying, and a rain-soaked breakdown. The moment a couple sits down calmly and says, "I love you, but I have a date with someone else on Friday," the writer calls "Cut" because the conflict is gone.
Despite the critical acclaim, mainstream Indian society is largely hostile to these portrayals. When Gehraiyaan released, Twitter was flooded with accusations of "glorifying adultery." The audience is comfortable with a hero having multiple ‘affairs’ (think Devdas), but uncomfortable with a heroine openly consenting to an open marriage.
The Double Standard: Bollywood has historically allowed men to have complex romantic lives. Rajesh Khanna in Aradhana had a son out of wedlock. Amitabh Bachchan in Silsila had an extramarital affair. But these were presented as tragic mistakes or destiny.
In contrast, Bollywood open relationships and romantic storylines today are often led by female protagonists (Deepika in Gehraiyaan, Mrunal in Lust Stories 2, the cast of Four More Shots). This feels threatening to the traditional male audience because it suggests that women enjoy sexual variety just as much as men. www bollywood open sex com
The Religious Factor: India is a country where the Ramayana and Mahabharata are moral anchors. While ancient texts had polygamy (kings with multiple wives) and even polyandry (Draupadi), modern interpretations have rigidified into Victorian monogamy. Any deviation is labeled "Western influence."
While progress is being made, Bollywood is still tentative. Few films end with an open relationship functioning successfully. Usually, the third wheel is killed off, or the couple returns to monogamy ‘realizing its value.’
By: The Reel Relationship Desk
For decades, Bollywood sold us a very specific dream. It’s a dream where the hero climbs the Swiss Alps for a single ghoonghat peek, where the villain is defeated by the power of a sindoor, and where the lyric “Ek hi dil mein kitni mohabbatein” (How many loves in one heart?) was always rhetorical. The answer, according to the Hindi film industry, was always one. Here is the irony
But the world has changed. Dating apps, urban loneliness, and a generation redefining commitment have introduced concepts like polyamory, ethical non-monogamy, and open relationships into the mainstream conversation. The question is: Where does Bollywood, the high priest of monogamy, stand on this?
The short answer is: Schizophrenic. The long answer is far more interesting.
These films attempted to capitalize on the urban trend of couples choosing career over marriage.
This is where the conversation shifts to desire outside of marriage. Before we talk about open relationships, let’s admit
Before we talk about open relationships, let’s admit that Bollywood has been flirting with the idea of multiple loves for years—just dishonestly.
Think of Silsila (1981) or Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006). These aren't open relationships; they are stories of infidelity and guilt. The characters are miserable, lying, and scheming to be with one person while trapped with another. The narrative punishes them before granting them monogamy. That isn’t polyamory; that is adultery with a sad song.
In this anthology, director R. Balki delivered a short film starring Mrunal Thakur and Angad Bedi that flipped the script on infidelity. In the story, a wife asks her husband for permission to sleep with another man (played by Neeraj Kabi) as a "lust project."
Why it matters: Unlike Gehraiyaan, this wasn't about cheating. It was about ethical non-monogamy. The husband struggles with jealousy, but the story concludes that allowing your partner sexual freedom is the ultimate act of trust. It was controversial in India (labeled "vulgar" by some), but it opened the door for conversations about "hall passes" in Indian marriages.