Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal are marriage goals — with their social media filled with travel pictures, and vlogs where the happy couple are enjoying spending time with one another and living life to the fullest. In conversation with Kareena Kapoor Khan on her talk show What Women Want, Sinha revealed that she and Zaheer had been together for 7 years, and they “waited too long” to get married.
“Bohot pehle hi kar lena chahiye tha. It’s so fun. Aisa lag raha hai jaise maine apne best friend ke saath reh rahi hoon. It’s just so convenient, and ab mujhe ghar se waapas nahi jaana hota to come here and come there. So it’s very convenient that I am spending time with him, and it’s been really good,” said the Dabangg actor.
According to her, spending time together in the open feels extremely relieving. “Pehle chup chup ke jaate thhe, and apne gaadi mein jaate thaa and phir main apne gaadi mein jaati thi, phir hum andar milte thhe. Ab hum khule aam milte hai,” she said.
Gurleen Baruah, occupational psychologist and executive coach at That Culture Thing, told indianexpress.com, “Deciding your timeline for life’s milestones, like marriage and other significant decisions, is crucial for personal empowerment and mental well-being. As adults, we possess the autonomy to make choices that align with our values, feelings, and circumstances. While society may impose norms and suggest ‘ideal’ ages for achieving certain milestones, like settling down or starting a family, it’s important to remember that these are human-made constructs.”
They got married in September 2024 (Source: Instagram/@aslisona)
Instead of rushing to tick milestones off the bucket list, taking your own time can allow individuals to gain a deeper sense of self-awareness and emotional maturity. “As people age, they often become more secure in their values, desires, and long-term goals. This emotional and psychological growth enables them to make decisions that are more aligned with their authentic selves, rather than feeling pressured by external expectations,” she explained.
Baruah mentioned that there isn’t a set age for reaching life milestones such as marriage or having children. “Many people make these decisions when they are younger, and that’s perfectly fine if they are ready and feel fulfilled. The key point is that these decisions should be based on personal readiness rather than the pressure imposed by others or societal norms.”
How to balance family expectations in such scenarios?
Navigating family or cultural expectations while honouring your own timelines for major life milestones can be challenging, especially in collectivist cultures like India, where family plays a central role in decision-making. The key to balancing these expectations is through respectful communication and mature dialogue.
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“Start by having an open and honest conversation with your family. Let them know that you deeply value their opinions and love them, but that choosing your own path doesn’t mean you’re disregarding their guidance or being disrespectful,” said Baruah.
In many Indian families, parents often feel protective and think they know what is best for their children based on their own experiences. “It can take time for them to understand that times have changed and that individual preferences play a significant role in today’s decision-making processes,” she said.
