Rupanjana Mitra and Ratool Mukherjee on love beyond Valentine’s Day: ‘It’s about quietly protecting what you share’

For actor Rupanjana Mitra and actor-director Ratool Mukherjee, together for over a decade, love has evolved beyond the clichés of Valentine’s Day. What once felt like a day of grand gestures has matured into something quieter and more meaningful—shared time, understanding and choosing each other every day.

Rooted in compassion, consistency, and presence, their love is lived not in symbols, but in everyday moments that grow deeper with time. Read on to know more… What does Valentine’s Day mean to you at this point of life?Rupanjana Mitra: At this age, Valentine’s Day holds a very different meaning for me. It no longer feels like it did at 18 or 20, when Friendship Days often felt more exciting than celebrating Valentine’s Day itself. With time and maturity, I’ve come to understand that this day is less about grand gestures and more about genuinely showering love, respect, and presence — which is truly the purpose of the day.Ratool Mukherjee: At this point in life, Valentine’s Day isn’t about violins in the background. Love, I have learned, is not about the day you boast about it, it's about the days you quietly protect it. How do you celebrate V-Day?Rupanjana: We now celebrate in our own simple and meaningful ways: sitting together with warm cups of coffee, talking about things we love — cinema, music, sports — dancing to our favourite songs from the ’90s as well as new-age music.

It becomes even more special during long drives, quiet walks, holding each other’s hands, or simply sitting together in silence.Ratool: We love watching films one after the other when we are home, Spending quality time with our son Rian, and our two pets gives us immense happiness. Spending time with each other's parents makes us happy.At times we speak less and play our favourite songs alternatively sitting quietly or reading books.

We cook together some days, we talk about our childhood, we sing together. What does love mean to you now?Rupanjana: In a demanding life filled with responsibilities, love grows deeper because it brings families and loved ones closer. Ratool: Love is the strongest emotion on earth and it is so powerful that often words fail to describe it. The definition of course changes with time, in my teens I had perceived love in a different way, in my twenties it was different, and now in my thirties I think I finally understood it.

Love is all about compassion and understanding each other. Quotes:Rupanjana: Valentine’s Day, at this stage, is about connection, understanding, and shared moments that rise above the mediocrity of everyday life.Ratool: Love is all about compassion and understanding each other. For us, love isn’t about Valentine’s Day gifts. It’s about choosing each other every day. Love, for us, is consistency, respect, and staying, especially when it’s not easy.Pix: Anindya Saha