Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; February 14, 2019)

Last year, in an interview with After Hrs, Kartik Aaryan had admitted to being in a relationship for the first time. Now, he is single. Just like his Luka Chuppi co-actor Kriti Sanon, who has been in the news for her previous relationship, but never admitted to it in public. When it comes to matters of the heart, both the Gen-Y stars have similar thoughts. Neither of them believe in casual hook-ups or dating apps, but give immense value to companionship. On Valentine’s Day, they discuss their idea of a perfect relationship. Read on...

How would you define love?
KRITI: It’s a connection that you can’t explain. You can’t define it. Everybody’s idea of love is going to be different because it’s only something that you can feel. It has got no reason to it.
KARTIK: For me, love is about being compassionate. I would love to have someone who I’m totally invested in and at the same time, she’s also completely invested in me.

Were you ever in a serious relationship where you thought this is the person you would marry?
KRITI: Yes.
KARTIK: You had told me that you were 13 at that time! (Laughs)
KRITI: I won’t be specific but I was an adult by then. For me, it’s always about how the other person makes you feel. You look at each other and feel this strong feeling which you cannot explain. You understand by looking at one another. Doing little things make me feel special but you should do it because you want to, not because you have to.
KARTIK: I have felt that emotion and I feel I won’t find someone like her in my life again.

Kartik, last year, you had told us that you were in a steady relationship but now you’re not. How difficult is it to deal with heartbreak?
It’s extremely difficult to deal with it. But somewhere down the line, I have managed to transfer all my energy to work. The thought process has gone into putting things into constructive use. I want to be distracted because otherwise, I will start thinking.

And what about you, Kriti?
It’s a difficult situation to come to terms with, especially if you were not expecting it. When you genuinely feel for someone, heartbreak is about everything coming to zero and you suddenly start questioning yourself. “Why did this suddenly happen?” or “Where did we go wrong?” are some of the stupid questions you try to find answers to. The best thing to do at that point is to get into things that genuinely matter and need your energy. As far as relationships are involved, it’s a two-way process. So if the other person isn’t equally involved, it won’t work.

There was a time when people valued handwritten letters and today, it’s the digital age of texts and Tinder. Which one do you relate more to?
KRITI: I want to be in that older generation. I can never be on Tinder because I’m not a hook-up person. It’s important for me to organically connect with someone and when I do, I expect more. I tend to get emotionally involved, which is why I would completely be fit for the letter-writing generation.
KARTIK: I can’t be on a dating app ever, for fun. It’s got no emotion at all. I’m a romantic at heart — I would like to take her out, go on dates, do little things.

After your previous relationships, what’s the one quality that you would like to change about yourself?
KRITI: I haven’t thought about it. I guess sometimes, I tend to talk a lot about my life — what’s happening with me and around me. I’m a good listener, but I have a tendency to converse about work at length. I think I should change that about myself because when I’m with someone, work should take a backseat.
KARTIK: I’m bad at time management. Apart from that, I have always wanted my career to be this way and now, I’m getting to finally live my dream. So, I tend to think about work more. I want to change that habit.

What would you never tolerate while in love?
KRITI: I won’t tolerate being taken for granted. Also, I tend to trust someone easily, which I shouldn’t. I can be a naive person.
KARTIK: I can’t be with someone who doesn’t trust me. When I’m in a relationship, I’m completely invested in it.
KRITI: That’s something even I can’t deal with. I’m an extremely loyal person. So, it is important for the other person to trust me because insecurities can spoil things. There might be nothing wrong with your relationship, but if you’re not secure enough, it might ruin it.
KARTIK: Sab kharab ho jaata hain!
KRITI: We can totally become love gurus now! (Smiles)

Sara Ali Khan has been professing her love for you, Kartik. And there are rumours that you and Ananya Panday are dating. So, what’s happening?
KRITI: What’s this Luka Chuppi you’re playing? Aaj toh bata hi do.
KARTIK: (pauses) I would love to go on a date with someone whose name ends with ‘A’. (Smiles)
KRITI: Huh! Main toh hoon hi nahin iss mein...(Laughs)

Are you both open to falling in love again?
KARTIK: I’ve been madly in love and I’m not in the headspace for it right now.
KRITI: It will happen when it has to.