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NDTV
a day ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Can Biryani Lead To A Breakup? How Veg-Non-Veg Food Habits Decide Dating In India
For Indian singles today, love isn't just in the air - it's on the plate. Food has long been a love language, but in a country like India where culinary traditions are deeply personal and fiercely protected, it's often so much more. A plate of food here isn't just a mix of green leafy vegetables and bread. It's a full-blown love affair - a symphony of spices, emotions and stories passed down generations. What makes that plate even more special? It's who you're sharing it with - or not sharing, if you're like Joey from Friends who doesn't share food. For some, it's about ordering two separate dishes and eating together in silence. For others, it's feeding each other bites of the same meal while arguing about which chutney is superior. But what happens when two people from different food worlds start dating? Can a vegetarian fall in love with a meat-lover? Will ordering paneer instead of pork cause friction? Can something as seemingly simple as a thali vs a tandoori platter be a deal breaker? We spoke to people across the country, and it turns out, food can both make and break love. 'We Broke Up Because Of This' Some relationships crumble not because of big fights or cheating scandals, but because of incompatible food preferences. Rishabh Agarwal*, 25, a working professional from Delhi, shared how his relationship ended over dietary differences. "We started out knowing we had different food habits - she was vegetarian, I was not - but we didn't think much of it. Over time though, eating out, ordering in, even deciding where to go became exhausting. It felt like we were constantly adjusting. Eventually, we just gave up," he says. Sanjini*, 24, from Chennai, echoes a similar experience. "I was dating a guy from a Jain background. I grew up in a Tamil household eating all kinds of meat - from prawns to mutton. But with him, there was always this underlying tension. I was constantly aware of this difference. He was allergic to eggs and hated the smell of seafood. I knew deep down that this wasn't going to work long-term." 'When Love Trumps Food' Not all stories end in heartbreak, though. For some, love wins, and food just adapts. Rohit Kumar*, a 25-year-old MTech student from Assam, gave up meat completely when he started dating a vegetarian classmate. "It wasn't a big deal. She mattered more. I knew she would be the one compromising, so I decided to do it instead," he says. For Komal Lath, a working professional from Delhi and her husband, who come from very different food preferences, things have always been smooth. "We both love food, and we're adventurous. I'm vegetarian, he's not. When we travel, we mark out little hole-in-the-wall joints. I enjoy watching him explore non-veg dishes. Once, in Kazakhstan, he ate horse meat and I just stuck to a salad." Komal admits the only challenge is when they travel as a pair and can't order many dishes to share. "That's the only drawback. The variety is reduced for me. But it doesn't affect us emotionally. The respect we have for each other's choices makes up for it," she says. What Data Says A recent survey by dating app happn confirms that food is far more than just a background detail in modern romance - it's central to it. Here's what the survey found: 72% of Indian singles believe cooking together strengthens their bond. 37% feel immersive food experiences (like workshops or chef's tables) spark deeper conversations early on. 52% said they'd love to attend curated culinary events as a way to connect more meaningfully. When asked about food preferences in relationships: 49% said food compatibility was important. 29% called it extremely important. 43.3% said mismatched tastes were fine depending on the level of difference. 25% said incompatible food habits were a complete deal-breaker. Interestingly, 17% admitted they had crushed on someone based on their food photos or reviews, while another 35% said they might - hinting at the subtle power of a well-curated foodie feed. Karima Ben Abdelmalek, CEO and President of happn, says, "Food has always been a language of love, but now it's becoming a meaningful way for people to connect and build compatibility. From dining out to experimenting in the kitchen, Indian singles are discovering new ways to bond through flavour, experience, and playfulness." 'It's Not About The Food' Dr Sachin Mehla, a Gurgaon-based couples therapist trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy and the Gottman Method, says food fights are rarely just about food. "When a vegetarian and non-vegetarian are struggling, it's rarely because of the dish on the table. It's about how accepted, respected, or judged someone feels. If meals become a challenge, it often points to deeper emotional disconnect. People thrive in relationships where differences are navigated with curiosity rather than control," he explains. He adds, "Think about it. Couples with different hobbies, political opinions or religious beliefs make it work. Why not food? It's never about aligning palates - it's about emotional safety." Dr Mehla shares the story of one couple where food was masking bigger issues. "When they met, both ate meat. A few years in, she turned vegetarian for ethical reasons. Suddenly, meals became battlegrounds. But the problem wasn't meat or no-meat - it was that she felt her values were dismissed, and he felt judged. Once they felt emotionally safe again, those fights disappeared," he recalls. His advice for navigating food-based differences? Have open conversations about why you eat the way you do. Respect your partner's food identity, especially if it's tied to faith or ethics. Use practical boundaries: separate utensils, kitchen areas, and clean-up routines. Focus on shared experiences: find dishes you both enjoy, or cook together. "When the emotional bond is strong, food differences don't divide - they deepen the connection," he adds. Respect, Not Recipes, Builds Love Sidhharrth S Kumaar, relationship coach at astrology-prediction app NumroVani, agrees that culinary differences aren't usually a deal-breaker - unless there's a lack of mutual respect. "In my experience, veg-non-veg couples work just as smoothly as any other - if there's respect. It's not about eating the same things. It's about not judging each other's choices." He adds that problems usually start when one partner tries to 'convert' the other or makes comments about their food. "Judgement destroys intimacy. I saw a man constantly mocking his girlfriend's meat-eating habits. She felt emotionally distant, and eventually left - not because of meat, but because of the superiority complex," Kumaar says. Interestingly, Sidhharrth points out that it's not just veg vs non-veg where conflict brews. "Even within vegetarian or non-vegetarian preferences - like someone who won't eat garlic, or someone who eats beef - there can be friction," he says. Reflecting on the last few years, he says about 20-22% of couples he's worked with have faced issues due to dietary differences. But the successful ones? "They're the ones who don't try to 'fix' each other, and instead, enjoy discovering the other's food world." So, Can Biryani Lead To A Breakup? It depends. For some, love means learning to enjoy mushroom pulao when you'd rather have chicken tikka. For others, it's being able to eat your pork ribs while your partner enjoys their dal chawal - no questions asked. At the heart of it, food preferences aren't just about taste. They're about comfort, culture, identity, and emotion. When respected, they become shared rituals. When ignored, they can cause problems. (* names changed as per request)
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Car interiors take centre stage as buyers focus on cabin experience
Pune: Software engineer Rishabh Agarwal decided to buy an SUV and after he had decided on the brand, Agarwal paid an extra one lakh to the showroom dealer only to get his car interiors customised. He spent the extra money on his brand new car on panoramic overheads, ambient neon lighting bordering the sunroof, touch screen display, and also a central console. Passenger vehicles have undergone a major change in recent years and customers don't buy them just for their mobility needs. Cars are offering a lot more these days — be it safety or lifestyle features. ambient lighting, touch screen technology, an increasing number of sensors, cameras, radars, and other elements are changing the interiors of cars converting them nearly into a living space. Showroom executives said customers were willing to spend nearly 50 % of the cost of the car on the interiors and sometimes even get them customised based on their needs. As a result, car interiors manufacturing companies have set up plants in Chakan to cater to the growing needs of the customers in this segment. General manager of sales at a Wakad-based car showroom, Nikhil Sampat, said, "Car interiors are evolving based on the choice of customers. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo They are no longer in the mood to buy what already comes with the car, they always want more and they are ready to pay for that extra special touch." Citing this demand, one of the world's largest manufacturers of vehicle components, Antolin India expanded its operations by opening a new manufacturing facility in Chakan. The company manufactures diverse functions such as acoustics, safety, panoramic overheads, and lighting, along with cockpit modules or central consoles. Antolin products are supplied to leading brands such as Tata, Mahindra, Skoda Volkswagen and Suzuki. "Indian cars would have features such as collision warning systems, driver fatigue detection systems, proximity sensors, face recognition for door locking and unlocking. The focus is now shifting towards ease of driving and comfort inside the car," said Alfonso Martinez Matosas, managing director of Antolin in India. The conpany is developing a lighting system that could optimise the driver's pupil diameter by inhibiting adverse effects caused by low-light conditions and thus improving the driver's vision. "This system, called NightSight, would allow users to reduce glare from headlights or better appreciate shapes in low visibility situations. Now, lighting has become a fundamental element in the interior of the vehicle, playing a crucial role for road safety," Matosas said. Car interiors are increasingly becoming an extension of a vehicle owner's living room or office. Shruti Muchchal from Rasta Peth said, "When I decided to buy my sedan, I wanted to feel luxurious inside. I opted for specialised seat covers with my businesses' name embossed. Also, I wanted dashboard and top surface lighting, as well as the step board lighting in blue and green. I received the delivery of my customised vehicle almost 25 days after its registration." A car dealer in Vimannagar, Jignesh Gupta, said customers are willing to spend an additional amount for their interior needs. "In the past six months, at least 25-30 customers have opted for specialised interiors. The primary requirements are lighting, consoles, touch screens, and a luxury feel inside the vehicle. We forwarded these requirements to the manufacturers and the work on the add-ons began," said Gupta. Pune: Software engineer Rishabh Agarwal decided to buy an SUV and after he had decided on the brand, Agarwal paid an extra one lakh to the showroom dealer only to get his car interiors customised. He spent the extra money on his brand new car on panoramic overheads, ambient neon lighting bordering the sunroof, touch screen display, and also a central console. Passenger vehicles have undergone a major change in recent years and customers don't buy them just for their mobility needs. Cars are offering a lot more these days — be it safety or lifestyle features. ambient lighting, touch screen technology, an increasing number of sensors, cameras, radars, and other elements are changing the interiors of cars converting them nearly into a living space. Showroom executives said customers were willing to spend nearly 50 % of the cost of the car on the interiors and sometimes even get them customised based on their needs. As a result, car interiors manufacturing companies have set up plants in Chakan to cater to the growing needs of the customers in this segment. General manager of sales at a Wakad-based car showroom, Nikhil Sampat, said, "Car interiors are evolving based on the choice of customers. They are no longer in the mood to buy what already comes with the car, they always want more and they are ready to pay for that extra special touch." Citing this demand, one of the world's largest manufacturers of vehicle components, Antolin India expanded its operations by opening a new manufacturing facility in Chakan. The company manufactures diverse functions such as acoustics, safety, panoramic overheads, and lighting, along with cockpit modules or central consoles. Antolin products are supplied to leading brands such as Tata, Mahindra, Skoda Volkswagen and Suzuki. "Indian cars would have features such as collision warning systems, driver fatigue detection systems, proximity sensors, face recognition for door locking and unlocking. The focus is now shifting towards ease of driving and comfort inside the car," said Alfonso Martinez Matosas, managing director of Antolin in India. The conpany is developing a lighting system that could optimise the driver's pupil diameter by inhibiting adverse effects caused by low-light conditions and thus improving the driver's vision. "This system, called NightSight, would allow users to reduce glare from headlights or better appreciate shapes in low visibility situations. Now, lighting has become a fundamental element in the interior of the vehicle, playing a crucial role for road safety," Matosas said. Car interiors are increasingly becoming an extension of a vehicle owner's living room or office. Shruti Muchchal from Rasta Peth said, "When I decided to buy my sedan, I wanted to feel luxurious inside. I opted for specialised seat covers with my businesses' name embossed. Also, I wanted dashboard and top surface lighting, as well as the step board lighting in blue and green. I received the delivery of my customised vehicle almost 25 days after its registration." A car dealer in Vimannagar, Jignesh Gupta, said customers are willing to spend an additional amount for their interior needs. "In the past six months, at least 25-30 customers have opted for specialised interiors. The primary requirements are lighting, consoles, touch screens, and a luxury feel inside the vehicle. We forwarded these requirements to the manufacturers and the work on the add-ons began," said Gupta.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Peer Robotics Unveils Peer 3000, its Most Flexible and Intelligent Collaborative Mobile Robot to Date
Ground-up design eliminates integration headaches and brings end-to-end material-handling automation within reach of small-to-midsize manufacturers DETROIT and NEW HAVEN, Conn., June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Peer Robotics, a leader in robotic automated movement solutions for factory and industrial settings, today announced Peer 3000, the next generation of its collaborative mobile robot platform. Peer 3000 is engineered to solve the long-standing problem of incompatibility with existing assets. Building on the company's strong human-centered approach to autonomous mobile robots, Peer 3000 provides factory and warehouse teams, as well as system integrators, with the ability to deploy full-scale material-handling automation without modification of pallets, trolleys, or carts within current facility infrastructure. "Manufacturing operations shouldn't have to change their workflows to adopt automation," said Rishabh Agarwal, Founder and CEO of Peer Robotics. "The Peer 3000 platform represents a complete reversal of traditional automation thinking—instead of forcing facilities to adapt to robots, we've created robots that adapt to existing operations, delivering immediate value without disruption." Peer 3000's patented design combines a cluster of overhead cameras for real-time mapping and navigation with a universal load-handling system that accommodates various trolley and pallet types without modification, enabling safe, efficient material transport across factory floors. Its intuitive human-feedback system allows workers to train the robot by physically guiding it, removing technical barriers that have long hindered automation adoption among Small and Medium Manufacturers (SMMs). All intelligence is processed on-board through edge computing, eliminating the need for complex IT infrastructure or cloud connectivity—a critical advantage for manufacturers with limited technical resources. "The Peer 3000 is truly a game-changing robot that will revolutionize surface-to-surface pallet movement," said Jamie Callihan, Owner & President of JLC Robotics LLC. "With crucial features like trolley grab and the ability to pick American, Euro, or custom pallets weighing up to 3000 lbs on the same platform, we are going to simplify many operations and create significant value for our customers. Our message to the marketplace is to simplify material movement, and we can uphold that promise with the Peer Robotics line of AMRs." Seamlessly fitting into virtually any floor layout, the Peer 3000 platform's flexibility is further enhanced by Peer's robust control and monitoring dashboard that allows for detailed operations flow planning. With this capability, entire jobs can be automated from end to end, including the pickup and dropoff of multiple assets in sequence, eliminating the need for manual staging or reassignment. "Our collaboration with Peer Robotics over the years has helped many customers improve efficiencies and reduce costs," said Varun Vashisht, VP of Sales & Strategy at Trilogy NextGen. "The introduction of the new Peer 3000 platform to the portfolio has our installed base excited about all the new capabilities and use cases they can enable adding significant value to their business. Our customers are excited to add the new hardware to their existing fleets and expand their automation capabilities even further." The Peer 3000 platform is a significant step toward future-proofing larger enterprises by allowing them to standardize based on an adaptable robotic solution that works with a large variety of assets. The result is higher throughput, lower costs, and a rapid ROI. For specifications, pricing, and integration questions, visit or contact sales@ About Peer RoboticsPeer Robotics builds collaborative mobile robots that learn from humans in real time, automating tasks with speed and safety. Peer's robots make automation simple, affordable, and scalable for manufacturing and warehouse workflows of any size, while providing granular control over complete operations. With deployments across US, Europe, and India, Peer Robotics provides seamless material-movement solutions that reduce human fatigue and drive production. Learn more at View original content: SOURCE Peer Robotics
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Survey for electric vehicle charging stations planned for condos in Noida
The district administration has directed power discoms UPPCL and NPCL to begin a comprehensive survey in residential societies for setting up electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. Additional district magistrate (ADM), finance and revenue, Atul Kumar said on Thursday, "A proper survey will be conducted soon. Based on the findings, designated spaces will be selected and EV charging stations will be built in a phased manner." With raging disputes over EV charging installations across group housing complexes, Atul Kumar said discoms must coordinate with apartment owners' associations (AOAs) and resident welfare associations (RWAs) to explain the govt's policy and identify possible locations for public charging points. The instruction for the survey was issued by the ADM during a meeting held on Thursday at the collectorate auditorium with officials from the electrical safety department, deputy registrar of firms, societies and chits, as well as representatives of RWAs and AOAs. At the meeting, deputy registrar Rishabh Agarwal informed the ADM the number of electric vehicles is increasing rapidly, but there were fewer EV charging stations in various societies. Welcoming the move, president of Exotica Fresco AOA and secretary of Noida Federation of Apartment Owners Associations (NOFAA) Surojit Dasgupta said older societies were particularly struggling to accommodate charging points. "Many of these buildings lack EV readiness and have no designated guest parking. AOAs are supporting private installations where possible, but we urgently need clear administrative guidelines to act responsibly and legally," Dasgupta said. Ramesh Chaudhary, an official from the electrical safety department, stressed the importance of following technical and safety standards. "Whether it's a public or private charging point, it must comply with electrical safety norms. Improper setups can pose serious fire hazards in dense residential clusters. We'll issue detailed safety checklists during the survey phase," he said. Meanwhile, the ADM also issued a final warning to residential societies operating unregistered lifts, saying legal action will be taken against defaulters after May 15.
Time of India
01-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
EV charging survey planned for condos
Noida: The district administration has directed power discoms UPPCL and NPCL to begin a comprehensive survey in residential societies for setting up electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. Additional district magistrate (ADM), finance and revenue, Atul Kumar said on Thursday, "A proper survey will be conducted soon. Based on the findings, designated spaces will be selected and EV charging stations will be built in a phased manner." With raging disputes over EV charging installations across group housing complexes, Atul Kumar said discoms must coordinate with apartment owners' associations (AOAs) and resident welfare associations (RWAs) to explain the govt's policy and identify possible locations for public charging points. The instruction for the survey was issued by the ADM during a meeting held on Thursday at the collectorate auditorium with officials from the electrical safety department, deputy registrar of firms, societies and chits, as well as representatives of RWAs and AOAs. At the meeting, deputy registrar Rishabh Agarwal informed the ADM the number of electric vehicles is increasing rapidly, but there were fewer EV charging stations in various societies. Welcoming the move, president of Exotica Fresco AOA and secretary of Noida Federation of Apartment Owners Associations (NOFAA) Surojit Dasgupta said older societies were particularly struggling to accommodate charging points. "Many of these buildings lack EV readiness and have no designated guest parking. AOAs are supporting private installations where possible, but we urgently need clear administrative guidelines to act responsibly and legally," Dasgupta said. Ramesh Chaudhary, an official from the electrical safety department, stressed the importance of following technical and safety standards. "Whether it's a public or private charging point, it must comply with electrical safety norms. Improper setups can pose serious fire hazards in dense residential clusters. We'll issue detailed safety checklists during the survey phase," he said. Meanwhile, the ADM also issued a final warning to residential societies operating unregistered lifts, saying legal action will be taken against defaulters after May 15.
