By: Lifestyle DeskNew Delhi | December 29, 2025 04:28 PM IST 4 min readOn her podcast with actor Sonakshi Sinha, Soha Ali Khan shared an anecdote about her mother, Sharmila Tagore, and her husband, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi. Reflecting on the need to maintain a perfect appearance in front of partners, she revealed, “I am very comfortable in front of Kunal with no makeup.” Soha then reflected how this wasn’t the case for her mother, after she got married, saying, “However, my mother told me that when she got married, she used to wake up before my father and put on a little bit of makeup. Then she would go back to sleep because he was like, ‘She is Sharmila Tagore,’ and he should wake up to seeing Sharmila Tagore for a brief period of time.”Soha then asked Sonakshi, “Do you think things like that, the effort, in terms of attraction, matter?” Sonakshi reflected on her own relationship, explaining, “I actually don’t think about it. At least for us, it goes beyond looks. I feel like I’m attracted to him for so many other things, just the way he is and the way he makes me feel. These are things that don’t go away, unless he intentionally decides to be not nice to me.”She also shared how her partner contributes to her sense of self-worth and confidence: “He’s someone who has always made me feel confident, no matter what size I am or how I look. He takes the most bizarre pictures of me, and when I question him, he says, ‘I find you so beautiful in that moment,’ even when I look like an absolute wreck.”Impact on emotional bonding and long-term attraction in a partnershipSonal Khangarot, licensed rehabilitation counsellor and psychotherapist, The Answer Room, tells indianexpress.com, “In Soha Ali Khan’s story, her mother’s gesture of putting on a little makeup wasn’t about vanity; it was a symbolic act of care. Relationship psychology shows that small, consistent efforts create a sense of being valued. When partners feel someone is willing to go ‘a little extra’ for them, the brain registers safety, appreciation, and closeness, deepening long-term attraction.”At the same time, she adds that such gestures “should come from choice, not pressure.” When they arise from healthy self-esteem, they strengthen both partners’ confidence and emotional security. “Ultimately, couples thrive not because of perfection, but because of these everyday micro-moments of love, intention, and warmth.”Emotional attraction vs physical appearance in sustaining a healthy, long-term relationshipEmotional attraction plays a far greater role than physical appearance in sustaining a long-term relationship. Khangarot notes, “Physical appeal may initiate interest, but the qualities that keep a partnership strong are emotional safety, shared values, kindness, and the way partners make each other feel. These aspects shape trust, stability, and the ability to navigate conflict together.”Story continues below this adALSO READ | The curious case of women’s disappearing sideburns through history till nowOver time, she reflects, people bond more deeply with a partner’s temperament, emotional presence, and consistency than with their looks. Role of affirmation and positive reinforcement in maintaining self-esteem and intimacy between partnersKhangarot states that when a partner consistently reflects acceptance, it helps reduce self-criticism and builds a stable sense of worth. Feeling valued “as you are” activates emotional safety, which deepens vulnerability and closeness. Such reinforcement also protects individuals from internalising societal pressures around appearance. “Over time, these small affirming moments create a secure attachment pattern: you trust that your partner sees you with warmth rather than judgement. This nurtures confidence, strengthens emotional connection, and makes the relationship a space where both partners can be authentically themselves,” concludes the expert. For more lifestyle news, click here to join our WhatsApp Channel and also follow us on Instagram© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd