In what might be seen as a healthy Bollywood couples on trend, the brink of a break-up or some who are simply taking time off, have decided not to wash their dirty linen in public. And this comes as such a relief to the media, especially because one doesn't have to weigh every word we write when reporting on a split. Following recent reports of trouble in Bipasha Basu and Harman Baweja's paradise, this couple was the latest to issue a joint statement that spoke of their intention to consciously uncouple. Of course, before writing anything about their decision to separate (albeit temporarily as they are insinuating), several attempts were made to reach both the actors. But they chose to ignore those messages and instead, issued the statement that read, “We have had our differences, but this rumour is rubbish (we assume they're referring to the rumours of their alleged link-ups). It has nothing to do with us taking time off.“ The note further read, “In our relationship, we have been dignified and respect each other. We do not like people having a field day at our expense.Whether we continue or not, we do and will always respect each other and would request the media to respect our privacy too, instead of printing all kinds of rumours without even verifying them with us.“ Fair enough, their private space post this will be respected. Of course, the statement itself could have come a couple of days earlier to put even the first round of rumours, about their respective liaisons outside of their own relationship, to rest.

Last December, Hrithik Roshan also used the same method to tell the world that his wife of 14 years, Sussanne, and he had decided to part ways. The light-eyed Bollywood superstar wrote, “Sussanne has decided to separate from me and end our 17-year relationship. This is a very trying time for the entire family and I request the media and the people to grant us our privacy at this time. I do not wish this news to disempower my fans and the people about the institution of marriage in any way. I am a firm believer in this institution and respect and honour it at the highest level... Once again, I thank my fans for all the concern and prayers for my health, my treatment is going well and I should be able to resume my life in every way very soon. Thank you.“

Over a year ago, when news first broke that filmmaker Anurag Kashyap and his actress-wife Kalki Koechlin's marriage had hit troubled waters, they chose to ignore a curious media. When the rumours gained momentum and talks of a split started doing the rounds, Kalki even suggested that these reports were nothing but a figment of the media's fertile imagination. However, when some other names started getting linked to Anurag, this celebrity couple, who still care for one another as individuals, came forward and issued a `We're taking time apart but please respect our private space' note in November.

One must note that it is a marked change from the way stars dealt with their splits earlier. Another actor, who is currently on the verge of a divorce, apparently told a co-actor that his life had become the subject of mockery as news of his split from his wife had become public. He further added that couples today have a much more dignified approach towards tackling their separation. While B-town stars adopted this tactic sometime last year, it was only in March 2014 that the term `conscious uncoupling' became fashionable -all thanks to Hollywood couple Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin who headed towards splitsville.

Their note read, “It is with hearts full of sadness that we have decided to separate. We have been working hard for well over a year, some of it together, some of it separated, to see what might have been possible between us, and we have come to the conclusion that while we love each other very much, we will remain separate... As we consciously uncouple and coparent, we will be able to continue in the same manner.“