Rakul Preet: ‘I was single for the longest time in my youth, used to joke meri jawani nikal gayi’ | Exclusive

Rakul Preet opens up about what love means to her

Before she met and fell in love with actor-producer Jackky Bhagnani, Rakul Preet was single for the longest time. The actress admits that it was difficult for her to find a partner as she was looking for someone who had a similar life. She doesn't believe that opposites attract and that partners need to share interests.

On Rakul Preet's birthday, we take a look back at a recent chat she had with Mid-day.com, where she spoke about her beliefs about love and relationships.

Navratri 2023: From sarees to lehengas, Rakul Preet`s guide for this festive season

1 year agoPHOTO GALLERY

What is modern-day dating according to you?
Everyone has a different opinion about love. For me, it has to be unconditional. You cannot put a condition on your partner. ‘I need you to do this, wear that' - all the insecurity, possessiveness - I don't think love needs to have all that drama. Love is something that should only add value to your life. You have to be so complete in yourself, you are not completing someone else, you are not filling a void in someone else's life. Or no one is filling in mine. Only when two people are complete in themselves can they add value to each other's lives and let each other grow, flourish, and provide that happiness and companionship which I think is love.

Has dating been a struggle for you in the past?
No, I was never too driven to find a partner. I feel we give it too much importance. I was single for the longest time, all of my youth. I used to joke, ‘Meri jawani nikal gayi'. My friends used to say you're not normal. I never went on any dating app. I didn't believe in this blind system of dating. But I did believe in the universal power of love. I am a little old-school romantic that way. And I knew that at the right time, I will get the right person. I was not making any effort. I just knew, whoever has to come will come into my life.

For me, the challenge of not finding anyone was weird, because I wanted a partner who has a similar way of life. I do not feel that opposites can attract. There can be a lot of small arguments - one likes the beach, the other likes the mountains, one wants to sleep early the other wants to stay up late. It just can't happen. It can maybe happen in the infatuation phase, but not for life. You need to have activities and things to do together, travel, do fun things. I always wanted someone just like me, so I used to reject people - ‘arey yeh toh unhealthy khaate hain, so not my type'. So my challenges were very different. My friends would joke that ‘you're never going to find anybody.' But I was okay with that.