Parakh Madan: Valentine’s Day has never been a very big deal for either one of us

Parakh Madan, who has been part of shows like Bhagyalakshmi, Anupamaa, Meet, and Qurbaan Hua, among others, is married to Adhiraj Singh. The couple has been married for 15 years now but doesn't believe in giving too much importance to a day like Valentine’s Day.

"Valentine’s Day has never been a very big deal for either one of us. The 90s were a transient decade, when Valentine’s Day was just about beginning to become a craze. We would gift each other handmade cards in school and write letters to one another when we were in college, and today, after years of dating and being married, it’s just another day for us to celebrate our love and commitment to each other. That’s what Valentine’s Day means to me," she said.

She and her husband are in a long-distance marriage, as her husband is in the army, and she mentioned that communication has been the key to keeping their spark alive for decades.

She said, "It’s the smallest of things that make the biggest of difference. And our 'love language' is to share every tiny detail of our day with each other before we go to sleep. Making time is not a big deal if priorities are clear."

Asked about one habit that still makes her feel loved and appreciated, she said, "There are many everyday habits of his that make me feel loved, appreciated, and valued. The one habit that tops the list is starting his day by sending me a text when we’re apart. And when we’re together, he’ll always get up before me and then wake me up with my morning cup of tea."

As an actor, Parakh revealed that onscreen romance and love are mostly perfect and illusionary, with beautiful dialogues and romantic gestures. She added, "However, real-life chemistry is the ease of being in the same room together for hours without feeling the need to say a single word."

She stressed that marriage has taught her to look beyond the theatrics in a relationship and appreciate the extraordinary in the ordinary life. "Also, marriage has introduced me to several new layers of love and romance, and as an actor, that realization helps me bring new flavors of realism and authenticity to my performances," Parakh ended.