Actor Rohitashv Gour, who plays the role of Manmohan Tiwari in Binaiferr and Sanjay Kohli’s banner Edit II’s Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hai on &TV, says that, for him, love means dedication and respect. He adds that his definition of love has changed over the years.
“For me, love means dedication, respect, personal space, and valuing each other’s thoughts. That’s my definition of love. Over time, my perspective on love has changed. Earlier, I used to believe in love purely from the heart, but now I feel that love should be a balance of both heart and mind. This makes relationships stronger and more successful,” he says.
Talking about how his idea of love has changed over the years, he says, “In the past, love was more about emotional connections, but now it’s a mix of emotions and practicality. As for Valentine’s Day, I never really celebrated it before. It was only after moving to Mumbai that I started acknowledging it. Back in my village, we had no idea what Valentine’s Day was. It’s more of an urban festival with no deep-rooted traditions. Mostly, couples cut a cake, exchange hugs, and sometimes go out for dinner with their children. It’s a simple celebration, not something deeply cultural for us.”
Talking about Valentine’s Day, he says, “During my time, this kind of celebration didn’t even exist. Valentine’s Day is a recent trend, and while there’s nothing wrong with it, it has become quite overrated. As a society, we tend to embrace Western traditions with great enthusiasm, and Valentine’s Day is one such example. It has been hyped up so much that it feels excessive at times.”
Talking about what real gestures of love mean, he says, “One of the most romantic moments I have experienced in real life was after my marriage. I was on an outdoor shoot and I was missing my wife a lot. After many days of being away, I checked into my hotel, and to my surprise, she was there, sitting with a rose in her hand, smiling at me. It was completely unexpected and felt magical. This happened in Sri Ganganagar, and I still cherish that moment.”
Meanwhile, talking about the portrayal of love on TV shows, he says, “When it comes to love as portrayed on television, I don’t find it realistic. TV shows mostly present love dramatically and artificially. In older films, romantic stories felt genuine, and the chemistry between the lead actors seemed real. Nowadays, everything feels scripted and staged.”
He adds, “Speaking of my character, Manmohan Tiwari, he is flirtatious by nature. His storyline revolves around the fact that he always wanted a well-educated wife, which he doesn’t see in Angoori but finds in Anita Bhabhi. His wish is to see the qualities of Anita in Angoori. That’s why he is always drawn to Anita Bhabhi. In his ideal version of love, he wants his wife to have the charm and sophistication that he admires in Anita.”
