Five couples on what actually makes their relationships work

Romance and chemistry look different for every couple, in every city, in every country. For the 11th instalment of the Cosmo Couples series, in which we travel the world photographing real-life partners, we touched down in Mumbai to speak to five couples about what makes their relationships work. 

Prateek + Aakriti
Media sales and marketing executive, 39 + director-producer, 37 
Years together: 9 

Aakriti: On our last holiday to Osaka, we found ourselves in a vinyl bar the size of a storeroom, listening to a retired rocker-turned-bartender playing ghazals. 

Prateek: The night ended with him cracking open the only bottle of Indian whiskey he kept among his Japanese malts. 

Aakriti: And pouring us a round... 

Prateek: ...while the entire bar listened to Jagjit Singh.

Chaitanya + Shweta
Actor-musician, 35 + actor, 40
Years together: 13

Chaitanya: If our relationship had a movie title, it would be Kya Mast Hai Life (Life Is Awesome).

Shweta: Or, Koi Mil Gaya (I Met the One). 

Chaitanya: To be honest, I think love exists in the silent moments. We are old-school—we still leave notes for each other.

Shweta: We just fit. He is my favourite person to do everything with.

Prayag + Porus
Stylist and creative director, 38 + photographer and creative director, 40
Years together: 20

Prayag: We met online. I used to write a blog about my everyday life. Porus became a regular commenter and reader.

Porus: We found talking to each other very comfortable.

Prayag: That’s how we became friends.

Porus: Just having that closeness...I had never had that with another man.

Prayag: It felt very safe.

Sheldon + Meagan
Photographer, 32 + stylist, 33
Years together: 5

Meagan: A silent way he expresses his love is by listening to me and showing up for me. Picking me up from the airport without me asking.

Sheldon: For me, it’s her taking care of me on busy days and making sure I’ve eaten.

Meagan: And then there are moves we make to win an argument—I make a sad, puppy face.

Sheldon: I never win an argument.

Prernaa + Rohan

Design brand founder and creative director, 37 + creative studio founder and visual artist, 36
Years together: 4

Prernaa: My love language has always been touch. It could just be our eyes meeting. Any type of intimacy.

Rohan: No matter how busy we are, we at least have one meal together. Also, I have to say this...

Prernaa: What?

Rohan: I think she chose me because of my morning chai.

Prernaa: Oh, yes, he makes the best chai.

All photos: Keerthana Kunnath

Production, coordination, and eealisation: Shalini Kanojia and Tongpangnuba Longchari; Line Producers: Nasir Shaikh and Farooq Shaikh

On Prayag: oversized bomber jacket, rib tank, and barrel jeans, all Dhruv Kapoor; on Porus: vintage Kantha shirt and pants, Day & Age

This article originally appeared in Cosmopolitan India's March-April 2026 print issue. 

Also read: Soft-launching a relationship is more stressful than being single

Also read: The date night jar is here to pull you out of your dating rut