Shahana Goswami Admits Having Multiple Open Relationships: I Have So Much Love To Give, Why Should I...

Actor Shahana Goswami has spoken about choosing an open relationship, saying there is no "primary partner" in her life at present. During a podcast conversation with Siddharth Kannan, Shahana explained why conventional long-term partnerships do not appeal to her, and how honesty and freedom now guide the way Shahana approaches love. Best known for roles in films such as Heroine, Zwigato and Santosh, Shahana said this shift in thinking grew over time. Traditional expectations around commitment began to feel limiting, so Shahana started looking for a structure that allowed emotional depth, without forcing relationships into one fixed model or label.

Shahana Goswami open relationship views on communication and freedom

Describing what an open relationship means personally, Shahana said, "It means open and honest communication with whoever you are with, being able to truly understand what kind of person your partner is and working on yourself. At this point, I don't even have one primary partner like that. I have many people with whom I have long-standing dynamics, but it's not casual. None of it is casual for me."

Shahana also compared these dynamics to close friendships, stressing that each bond can look different. Shahana said that, just as people maintain many friends, romantic and intimate connections can vary, yet still stay meaningful. According to Shahana, the important factor is emotional honesty, not whether the relationship fits one standard definition.

Shahana Goswami open relationship idea as long-term bonding and friendship

Explaining this further, Shahana said, "So for me, at this point, openness means there's no clear-cut partnership with anyone, but there is this feeling of long-term bonding and connection that stays with you, no matter what form it takes. Sometimes it's just friendship. Sometimes it might be physical too. There's no need to force it into some specific direction. The baseline is simple: love and friendship. I have so much love to give, then why should I give to just one person?"

Shahana added that there is complete transparency with everyone involved. Partners know that Shahana may be intimate with, or emotionally close to, other people at the same time. For Shahana, the absence of secrecy is essential, and helps keep each connection respectful, even when several relationships exist alongside each other.

Shahana shared that this mindset took shape after an earlier relationship ended. Conventional dating never felt especially comfortable, as Shahana valued independence as much as affection. Reflecting on past choices helped Shahana realise that the usual "relationship formula" did not suit personal needs, even when strong love was present.

Shahana was in the 20s when Shahana fell in love with 43-year-old Milind Soman. For six years, the two stayed in contact through texts and letters. When Shahana moved to Mumbai and both were single, they began dating, before ending the relationship in 2013 because, as Shahana said, the timing felt wrong.

Later, Shahana met restaurateur Mauro Gazzi and chose a different approach, preferring openness over fixed rules. Away from personal life, Shahana recently starred opposite Manoj Bajpayee in the 2024 ZEE5 crime drama Despatch, directed by Kanu Behl and produced by Ronnie Screwvala under RSVP Movies, which drew mixed-to-negative reviews. Shahana has not yet announced the next project.