Over the years, dating and love have changed a lot, with an increasing focus on materialism and financial expectations. What used to be about emotional connections, compatibility, and shared values has, for some, become more about material desires. Men’s rights activist Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj recently sparked a discussion on Indian dating norms by sharing screenshots of WhatsApp conversations where a woman asked a man for money twice.
WhatsApp Screenshots Stir Debate on Money and Dating in India
Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj ignited a debate on dating expectations in India by sharing revealing WhatsApp screenshots. These screenshots showed conversations between a man and a woman, highlighting the financial requests she made regarding their meet-up plans.
In the first conversation, the woman agreed to meet for coffee but asked the man for ₹10,000 upfront to cover expenses like waxing, manicure, clothes, and makeup. She justified her request by suggesting that free dates lacked excitement nowadays. She even provided her UPI ID, drawing attention to the changing dynamics of dating.
Another Financial Request After Shopping Spree
In another screenshot, the same woman asked the man for financial help again, this time seeking ₹5,000 to ₹6,000 after overspending at Noida’s Mall of India. The screenshot showed that the man asked about her purchases, and she mentioned shoes and shirts. When he asked why she needed more money, she explained it was for commuting until her next salary, as her bank balance had dropped to ₹800. These screenshots shared by Bhardwaj have prompted reflection on how financial aspects increasingly influence modern dating.
Bhardwaj’s Bold Statement
Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj shared the screenshot on X (formerly known as Twitter) with a bold statement, saying, “Dating in India ain’t for beginners….”
Check out the post
Dating in India ain't for beginners…. pic.twitter.com/vpFfaZAI7z
— Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj (@DeepikaBhardwaj) June 18, 2024
Netizens Weigh In
The screenshots shared by Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj have caused a wave of reactions on social media platform X, garnering over 1.5 lakh views. Commentators expressed various opinions, reflecting concerns about the role of money in relationships today.
An X user, CA Ankit, noted that many men seemed willing to bear such financial burdens, highlighting a perceived imbalance in expectations. Several users likened these exchanges to business deals rather than genuine dating. One commenter suggested that this trend shows how some women might exploit vulnerable or lonely men for financial gain, while another dismissed such interactions as dating, calling them instances of begging.
And the sad part is that so many boys/Men are ready the bear these expenses
— CA Ankit (@caankitnagpal) June 18, 2024
That’s not Dating. That’s hiring Escorts with extra steps. Nothing wrong though.
— Deshpande (@Deshpande__) June 18, 2024
This is just PANO – Prostitution by Another Name Only
— Hélène du .P Menagé (Fernández) (@Helene_G_du_P_M) June 18, 2024
It's not a date or the beginning of a relationship; it's purely business, resembling the traditional heeramandi in a modern and sophisticated form.
— 𝑰𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒂𝒏 𝑫𝒊𝒗𝒂 (@itsDivasChoice) June 18, 2024
Yeah no I’m not paying for them. What do they have to offer when men are the ones paying for everything?
— Pavan ⛩️ (@pavan99912) June 18, 2024
It’s getting sicker
— Monica (@musing_monica) June 18, 2024
True love and affection is (almost) extinct now.
— Technomedic (@technomedic) June 19, 2024
Rest everything (thrill, lust, sex , drugs) remains which obviously demands money.
Most metro girls are like that and not just girls guys are not far behind
INCREDIBLE DATING TRENDS IN INDIA…
— Yati P (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Shadow21201) June 18, 2024
Dating or Bhikhari 🫤
— NIKHIL MISHRA (@D3vilsCall) June 18, 2024
— Yeh toh Rii hai (@itsriionly) June 18, 2024
Broader Societal Debates
The heated discussion highlights broader societal debates on expectations and the evolving dynamics of intimacy in an increasingly digital and transactional age. What are your thoughts? Share them in the comments below.