Not all love stories find their happily-ever-after in lifelong togetherness. Sometimes, love flourishes, evolves, and then finds peace in respectful separation. Hrithik Roshan and Sussanne Khan‘s journey is a reflection of this quieter kind of strength — a love that bloomed, flourished, and then found comfort in letting go.
Their story began in the most unexpected of places — a traffic signal. Hrithik was instantly taken by Sussanne’s presence. The minute Hrithik turned to his left to glance at the car next to him, he saw the most gorgeous woman he had ever come across. He just saw her waiting at a traffic signal and he knew this is the girl who will be in his life forever at a young age of 12. He would later share it with friend Kunal Kapoor, who eventually helped him connect with her.
Sussanne, on the other hand, recalled their early days differently. “That’s when I explored, studied, went to LA and came back when I met a superstar boy who was not a superstar at that time, but was one in my eyes when I met him,” she shared with Neha Dhupia on BFFs With Vogue. “Before this, I didn’t realise I didn’t have any interest in the film world. But destiny gets me back that way.”
Eventually, the two of them began dating after Hrithik openly expressed his feelings to Susanne, despite an age gap. In an interview with Simi Garewal, he revealed that he proposed to her by writing a heartfelt letter. “Dear Sussanne, Hi I hope this letter finds you in the pink of hunger. I just wanted you to know that I love you very very much and that I’d want to live my entire life with you beside me. Will you? If yes then turnover, if no then eat your food,” the letter mentioned.
The rest, as they say, is history. The couple went on to raise their two sons but eventually decided to separate in 2014 and remain connected on amicable terms.
Hrithik turned to his left to glance at the car next to him, he saw the most gorgeous woman he had ever come across. (Source: Express archive photo)
But, how do chance encounters, like meeting someone at a traffic signal, sometimes lead to profound emotional connections?
Neha Cadabam, Senior Psychologist and Executive Director at Cadabams Hospitals, tells indianexpress.com, “Chance encounters often bypass the conscious mind and awaken something more instinctive in us. These moments are unplanned, which means we’re not guarded or overthinking, we are simply present. From a psychological standpoint, this kind of spontaneous interaction can trigger what we call affective forecasting, our mind’s quick assessment of the emotional potential someone holds in our lives.”
Immediate attraction may stem from non-verbal cues, a certain look, energy, or vulnerability we perceive in the other person, she adds. “When a relationship grows out of such a serendipitous moment, it tends to hold a nostalgic, almost cinematic quality. That memory then becomes part of the emotional foundation of the relationship, reinforcing the idea that “this was meant to be.” Over time, this perception can influence how we define love itself, anchoring it in spontaneity, chemistry, and meaningful coincidence.”
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What does expressing such intense commitment early in a relationship indicate about emotional readiness?
Expressing deep commitment early in a relationship often reflects emotional sincerity and vulnerability. Cadabam stresses that it suggests that the individual is “emotionally open, perhaps driven by a strong emotional connection or a desire for enduring partnership.” These kinds of affirmations, especially in formative years of love, can help build a sense of security and trust between partners.
However, she says that as life progresses, people evolve, sometimes in harmony, and other times in different directions. It’s important to understand that love, while constant in its emotional imprint, also shifts in how it is expressed. Long-term relationships require emotional flexibility, allowing each person space to grow individually while also redefining what togetherness means at different stages.
