15 June,2026 09:27 AM IST | Mumbai | Rumani Gabhare
Siddharth Kannan with actress Shahaha Goswani on the podcast, Let’s Talk. Pic courtesy/@youtube; representation pic/Istock
If you loved somebody, why would you ever want anybody else?" Carrie Bradshaw famously asked in the series Sex and the City. More than two decades later, the answer still appears to be increasingly complicated. From films that address the topic of open relationships, like Challengers, and series like The White Lotus to real-life celebrity confessions, alternative relationship structures are moving from the fringes of popular culture into everyday conversation.
The latest voice to join the discourse is actor Shahana Goswami. In a recent interview with Siddharth Kannan, the actor openly admitted that, "At this point, I don't even have one primary partner like that. I have many people with whom I have long-standing dynamics, but it's not casual. None of it is casual for me." This isn't the first time a public figure has bared all. A small but growing group of public figures, including actor Kalki Koechlin and model-actor Sushant Divgikar, (aka Rani Ko-HE-Nur), have spoken openly about relationships that exist beyond traditional monogamy.
The shift is not merely anecdotal. Recently, YouGov, a market research and data analytics firm based in the United Kingdom, suggested that younger generations are increasingly open to relationship models that challenge the idea of exclusivity.
For many traditionally minded people, the idea of an open relationship or marriage is often viewed as taboo; decisions associated with infidelity, multiple partners, or even a sexual kink rather than a legitimate relationship structure.
"Non-monogamous relationships are not inherently unhealthy or psychologically damaging. However, they often bring emotional vulnerabilities to the surface more quickly compared with monogamous relationships," says psychologist Chandni Akhenia. "Feelings such as jealousy, insecurity, fear of being replaced, and uncertainty about one's place in a relationship can become particularly pronounced."
Research published in Archives of Sexual Behavior, a bimonthly peer-reviewed medical journal in sexology, found that around one in five adults have engaged in consensual non-monogamy at some point. However, Akhenia notes that such relationships depend more on emotional readiness.
"Individuals with anxious attachment styles, unresolved trauma, or low self-esteem may be more vulnerable to distress. Jealousy, on the other hand, is rarely about another partner alone - it often reflects deeper fears around abandonment and self-worth," she explains.
Therapy can help couples navigate challenges such as jealousy, trust issues, communication difficulties and unclear boundaries. According to Akhenia, non-monogamy often magnifies existing relationship patterns rather than creating new problems. "The therapeutic work focused on improving communication, identifying attachment needs, rebuilding trust, and helping each partner differentiate between healthy discomfort associated with growth and genuine emotional harm," she explains. Therapy can also help partners better understand their emotional needs, motivations and expectations.
According to Akhenia, open relationships do not fix underlying problems. "Trust, communication, consent, clear boundaries and accountability remain the strongest predictors of a healthy relationship, regardless of the type."
While discussions around open relationships often focus on heterosexual couples seeking greater freedom, psychologist Riyyan Farooq believes the conversation cannot be separated from the experiences of queer and gender-diverse communities, many of whom have historically challenged rigid ideas of romance.
Farooq adds that within LGBTQIA+ communities, there has long been a greater acceptance to question inherited relationship norms. "For queer individuals, the conversation is not simply about having multiple partners; it is about creating relationships that feel authentic to their identity and values."
He notes that bisexual individuals, in particular, often face harmful stereotypes that wrongly equate their sexuality with an inability to be monogamous. Farooq also points out that queer and gender-diverse individuals frequently encounter unique stressors, including social stigma, family rejection and legal inequalities. "The real mental health concern is often not the relationship structure itself, but the stress created by discrimination and lack of acceptance."
Ultimately, he argues that relationships are built on affirmation and agency. "Whether someone is monogamous or in an open relationship, psychological well-being is strongest when people have the freedom to build relationships that honour both their identity and their emotional needs."
1840s
John Humphrey Noyes founded the Oneida Community in New York, where members practised complex marriage.
1870s
Victoria Woodhull became a leading voice of the Free Love Movement in New York City, advocating relationships based on consent and personal choice.
1970s
John Presmont founded San Francisco's Kerista Commune, which popularised "polyfidelity" and brought ethical non-monogamy into public discourse.
1990s
Writer Morning Glory Zell-Ravenheart popularised the term polyamory in her article, A Bouquet of Lovers, bringing it to the 21st century.
. Trust has been repeatedly broken: Promises and agreements are disrespected.
. Your needs are constantly sidelined: You find yourself compromising to keep the peace.
. The relationship is affecting your well-being: Emotional strain begins to outweigh fulfilment.
. Honest conversations stop happening: Difficult topics are avoided rather than addressed.
. You no longer feel secure: The relationship creates more uncertainty than connection
