By: Lifestyle DeskNew Delhi | December 31, 2025 02:24 PM IST 4 min readKartik Aaryan recently reflected on emotional growth and mutual respect while speaking about his past relationship with Ananya Panday. (Source: Instagram/Kartik Aaryan)In an age where personal relationships are constantly dissected online, even people who never publicly confirm their status often find their private lives written about in detail. Reflecting on his past relationship with fellow actor Ananya Panday, Kartik Aaryan recently spoke about reconnecting professionally with an ex-partner and how time changes perspective. Talking to Filmfare about working together again after their breakup, he said, “She and I understand each other a lot. It’s been a journey. We’ve had our moments in life, and we’ve seen the ups and downs. And somewhere down the line, I’ve realised that both of us, as individuals, have really evolved and grown into that space.” He also emphasised that not all relationships end in bitterness. “Mine and Ananya’s relationship has never been about hatred or love-hate. It’s always been love, love, love, irrespective of the situation in life. I’ve always had a soft corner for her, and I would like to believe she has that for me, too,” he said. Acknowledging emotional growth, he added, “So yes, we’ve evolved. There was a certain kiddish nature that both of us had earlier. You mature with time. That childishness is still there inside, but it’s a bit more curbed now. And that’s okay.”Kartik also explained why he prefers to keep relationships private, something many people struggle with in the age of oversharing. “When you’re in the media spotlight, you have to respect a relationship, always. And I’ve always done that. I never talk about my relationships,” he said, adding, “There will always be countless stories about every actor and their personal life… Not everything you hear is correct, and you have to understand that.” Describing himself as “a very good lover,” he asserted, “I have always been faithful. Always! Overlapping never happened. That’s just media speculation. Overlapping isn’t something that was ever possible.” Emotional maturity and healthy closure after a breakupCounselling psychologist Athul Raj tells indianexpress.com, “When someone can speak about a past relationship as layered — containing love, conflict, growth, and disappointment – it reflects emotional integration rather than denial. Emotional maturity shows up when people no longer need to simplify the story into heroes and villains. Acknowledging ‘ups and downs’ suggests they have moved beyond emotional reactivity and can sit with nuance.”He adds that healthy closure isn’t about erasing pain; it’s about understanding it without being consumed by it. Mutual respect after a breakup often indicates that the individuals have processed the relationship internally instead of outsourcing unresolved feelings through resentment or public narratives.Story continues below this adALSO READ | 5 steps to ensure your needs are fulfilled in your relationshipPsychologically, Raj notes, it signals a capacity to honour what existed without clinging to it, and to accept endings without devaluing oneself or the other person.Post-breakup connection that truly supports their mental and emotional healthPost-breakup connections are not a measure of emotional intelligence; they are a matter of emotional readiness. Raj states, “Staying friends works only when both individuals have fully disengaged from unmet expectations and unresolved longing. If contact triggers confusion, hope, comparison, or emotional instability, it delays healing rather than reflecting growth.” Believing people evolve is psychologically healthy, Raj states, but evolution does not require proximity. Individuals need to assess how their nervous system responds after interactions – whether they feel grounded or unsettled. “Sometimes distance is not avoidance; it is emotional clarity. A healthy post-breakup dynamic allows grief to complete and identity to stabilise, rather than keeping the relationship emotionally unfinished.” For more lifestyle news, click here to join our WhatsApp Channel and also follow us on Instagram© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd