When Marriage Gets a Sell-by Date? — Kajol Sparks a Conversation

When Marriage Gets a Sell-by Date? — Kajol Sparks a Conversation

In a refreshingly blunt segment on her talk show Two Much With Kajol and Twinkle, Bollywood star Kajol proposed that marriage — commonly seen as a lifelong commitment — might benefit from a built-in “expiry date” and an option for renewal. Her statement: “What guarantees that you’ll marry the right person at the right time? … A renewal option would make sense and if there’s an expiry date, no one has to suffer for too long.” 
The comments stirred conversations — and strong reactions — about how we view marriage, commitment and the social expectations attached to them.

What She Actually Said

Here are the key points from the show:

• In the “This or That” segment, host Twinkle Khanna asked: “Should marriage have an expiry date and a renewal option?”

• Kajol answered in favour. The guests (including actors Vicky Kaushal and Kriti Sanon) and Twinkle disagreed and remained in the “red zone”, while Kajol stood in the “green zone”. 

• Kajol’s rationale: Nobody can guarantee that you marry at the right time or to the right person. If marriage came with a defined term and a renewal option, prolonged unhappiness might be avoided. 

• Twinkle quipped: “It’s marriage, not a washing machine.” Kajol retorted by emphasising the seriousness of the question. 

• The conversation also branched into other topics: for example, whether “money can buy happiness” — Kajol said no, that money can numb the idea of happiness.

Why This Statement Matters

1. Challenging Norms — In many cultures, including India’s, marriage is often framed as a lifelong contract made once and irrevocably. Kajol’s suggestion upends that expectation and invites us to think of marriage more like a flexible agreement.

2. Recognising Change — People change. Life circumstances change. The idea that you must stay with someone forever because you once made a commitment can trap people in unhappy situations. Kajol touches on this when she asks: what guarantees we pick the right person at the right time?

3. Promoting Agency — By suggesting a renewal option, she introduces agency: if things aren’t working, you aren’t condemned to “suffer for too long.” She uses exactly those words: “no one has to suffer for too long.” 

4. Reflecting Modern Realities — With rising divorce rates, changing gender roles, mobility, and shifting expectations, many relationships evolve in ways that traditional frameworks may not accommodate. A conversation like this can open up new models.

Points of Resistance & Critical Takeaways

• Tradition vs. Contract: Twinkle’s “washing machine” joke underscores the discomfort many feel when marriage is treated like a transactional renewal step rather than a sacred bond.

• Risk of Commodification: Some argue that introducing expiry/renewal could reduce emotional commitment or cause people to treat relationships like expendable contracts.

• Social Impact: In cultures where marriage is foundational for extended-family bonds, community and children, reducing it to a term may have unintended ripple effects.

• Individual vs. Systemic: While renewal models flag personal agency, they don’t automatically address systemic issues — e.g., domestic abuse, economic dependence, societal stigma around separation.

• Reaction from the Public: As one outlets reports, the comments quickly drew backlash online, reflecting how raw the topic remains for many

My Take

I find Kajol’s view bold and timely. It doesn’t diminish the concept of marriage; rather, it treats marriage as a living commitment that can evolve or end — not because of failure alone, but because life evolves. Having a renewal option doesn’t necessarily mean easy outs; it could mean regular re-commitment, conscious reflection, check-ins — things many relationships could use.
But it also requires deeper cultural shifts: greater emotional intelligence, less stigma around “ending things”, improved communication, and frameworks to support transitions (especially for children, dependents, etc.).

Final Thoughts

Whether one agrees or disagrees with the expiry-date idea, Kajol has succeeded in sparking a meaningful dialogue. The real question may not be whether marriages should expire, but how we think about commitment, change, and choice. Are we comfortable with a lifelong contract without flexibility? Or should we allow love, partnership, and marriage to adapt to our evolving selves?

In the end: maybe renewal isn’t about non-commitment, but re-commitment. Maybe an “expiry” is simply a checkpoint — a moment to ask: Does this still serve us? Are we still ourselves? Do we still choose each other? If yes — renew and celebrate. If no — maybe we shouldn’t “suffer for too long.”