'Men should listen more'

"I would tell all men to be good listeners. Once they master that, the fights will reduce automatically," says Shreyas (laughs). The actor who will be seen as a wedding planner in his next film, talks to CS about his wife, Deepti and marriage:

Band bajaa baraat
I met Deepti when she was a medical student. She was very clear that she wanted to finish her education before she got hitched.

Deepti also wanted to be very sure about our relationship. And, I was in a bit of a hurry to get hitched (laughs out loud). Finally, we tied the knot after she had finished a year in medical practice. So, unlike many guys, commitment was never an issue with me.

Marriage has brought a lot of stability in my life. It is nice to have someone you can return to at the end of the day - a person who loves you and is always there for you. Deepti is the force behind me. She always tells me to stay hopeful and face any situation with a smile.

Playing mind games
She is a psychiatrist, and though the thought of living with a shrink can be scary at times (laughs out loud), it has some benefits. Deepti is very good in her judgement of people. Though I argue with her at times, I often wonder how she gets her estimate so bang on.

I am her guinea pig. Quite often, she tries out her medical theories on me (laughs). Then, I remind her that I am an actor, and hence not expected to be practical and sound every time. She is extremely frank with her opinions, and doesn't hesitate in pointing out my flaws. Deepti often gives her feedback on my body language, expressions, diction, etc.

Loving it
I have been married for more than 11 years now. I feel that most relationships lose their spark because couples don't take the effort to pamper each other. You can't be complacent in a relationship.

A gift or dinner on a birthday and an anniversary is passe, but it's the small things you do on a daily basis for your partner that really count. Deepti loves flowers and chocolates, so I make it a point to get them for her once a while.

Such small gestures go a long way in keeping the romance alive. Lastly, I would like to say that very few people have the perfect marriage. Ups and downs are a part of every relationship. But as long as you know that divorce is not an option, you will work towards maintaining your relationship.u00a0