Vijay Deverakonda Says Rashmika Mandanna Tells Him ‘I Love You’ 10-15 Times A Day — A Psychologist Explains

Add as a preferred source on Google

Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna recently opened up about their relationship and marriage, discussing how couples can sometimes stop making small efforts once they become comfortable with each other. Rashmika stressed the importance of simple gestures such as saying good morning, asking about each other's day and checking in, while Vijay admitted that he often assumes his partner already knows how he feels. He said Rashmika has made him more conscious of expressing his feelings and described her as more mature about relationships.

Photo Credit: Instagram@kanakalasuma/AI-generated

Vijay also revealed that Rashmika tells him "I love you" around 10-15 times a day and encourages him to express his feelings too. Their conversation raises questions about the role of verbal affection in relationships and whether partners need to express love in the same way. Dr. Munia Bhattacharya, Sr. Consultant, Clinical Psychology at Marengo Asia Hospitals, Gurugram, explains why people have different emotional styles and why understanding each other's needs may matter more than how often they say "I love you."

Why Do Some People Express Love More Verbally Than Others?

Dr. Bhattacharya explains that people are not equally comfortable expressing emotions in the same way. "A lot depends on what we have seen and experienced while growing up," she says.

"In some families, people openly say 'I love you', appreciate each other and talk about their feelings. In others, love is shown more through actions, taking care of someone or simply being there when needed."

She points out that some people may feel emotions very strongly but still not be comfortable putting them into words. "So I would not immediately interpret someone who is less verbally expressive as someone who feels less," she says.

"In my clinical work, I often see couples make this assumption. One partner thinks, 'If you loved me, you would say it more often,' while the other genuinely feels that their actions should already communicate the same thing."

Can Saying "I Love You" Strengthen Emotional Security?

According to Dr. Bhattacharya, hearing something affectionate from a partner can provide reassurance in a simple but meaningful way.

"It tells you that you matter to them and that the emotional connection is still there," she explains.

She adds that verbal affection can become particularly important when couples are dealing with stress or have had an argument. "Saying something as simple as 'I am still with you' or 'We will work this out' can prevent a disagreement from feeling like a threat to the entire relationship."

However, Dr. Bhattacharya stresses that words need to be supported by actions. "Words work best when they match behaviour. If someone repeatedly says all the right things but behaves in a completely different way, the words eventually lose their meaning."

What Happens When One Partner Is More Expressive Than The Other?

Dr. Bhattacharya says this is common because people have different emotional styles.

"One partner may naturally talk about feelings, while the other may show love by helping, remembering small things, solving problems, spending time together or simply being available," she explains.

Sometimes, she adds, the quieter partner may simply never have learned how to talk about emotions. "They may know exactly what they feel but struggle to express it."

The problem can arise when both partners judge each other according to their own way of expressing love. "The expressive partner may feel neglected, while the quieter partner may feel that nothing they do is ever enough," Dr. Bhattacharya notes.

"It helps to first understand that they may simply be speaking different emotional languages."

When Does Reassurance Become Reassurance-Seeking?

Dr. Bhattacharya says wanting reassurance from a partner is completely normal, particularly when someone is hurt, worried or uncertain about the relationship.

"Most of us need it sometimes, particularly when we are hurt, worried or uncertain about something in the relationship," she explains.

The concern, she says, begins when reassurance becomes a repeated requirement. "Someone may ask, 'Do you still love me?', receive an answer, feel better for a little while and then need to ask the same question again."

Dr. Bhattacharya says it is important to look beyond the question itself in such situations. "Sometimes the person is not really looking for information. They are trying to get rid of an uncomfortable feeling."

She highlights an important distinction: "There is an important difference between saying, 'I need some reassurance today' and feeling that your partner has to repeatedly reassure you before you can feel okay."

Can Frequent Reassurance Become Unhealthy?

According to Dr. Bhattacharya, frequent reassurance can become unhealthy when it becomes the primary way someone manages anxiety about their relationship.

"You may notice repeated questioning even after the partner has answered, becoming very distressed if the partner does not respond immediately, reading too much into a change in tone or a short message, constantly checking whether the relationship is okay, or finding that reassurance only helps for a very short time," she explains.

Another sign, she adds, is when the other partner begins feeling responsible for keeping the person emotionally calm all the time.

However, Dr. Bhattacharya cautions against labelling someone as "needy". "There may be a deeper fear underneath the behaviour, such as fear of rejection, abandonment or not being good enough," she says.

"Addressing that fear is usually more useful than simply providing more and more reassurance."

Do Couples Need To Say "I Love You" Frequently?

Dr. Bhattacharya says there is no single measure of how often couples should express love verbally.

"Some couples say 'I love you' many times a day. Others may hardly say it, but you can still see the love in the way they treat each other," she explains.

Photo Credit: PR/AI-generated

"They may be dependable, affectionate, respectful, emotionally available and there for each other when life becomes difficult."

Therefore, she says, "I would not use the frequency of 'I love you' as a measure of relationship security."

At the same time, Dr. Bhattacharya says a partner's desire to hear those words should not be dismissed either.

"If one partner says, 'Hearing you say it sometimes is important to me,' that need should not simply be dismissed," she says. "You do not have to naturally express love in the same way as your partner, but you can make an effort to understand what makes them feel loved."

"The absence of the words does not necessarily mean the absence of love. But repeatedly dismissing a partner's need for those words can create emotional distance," she adds.

How Can Couples Communicate Different Emotional Needs?

Dr. Bhattacharya recommends that partners communicate what they need instead of accusing each other of doing something wrong.

"I usually encourage people to talk about what they need rather than tell their partner what they are doing wrong," she says.

She gives an example of the difference between saying, "You never tell me you love me," and expressing the same need differently: "When you tell me how you feel, I feel much closer to you. It would mean a lot to me if you did that sometimes."

"The second approach gives the other person an opportunity to understand rather than defend themselves," Dr. Bhattacharya explains.

She also suggests that the less verbally expressive partner can explain their own way of showing affection. "They might say, 'I know I do not say it often, but when I take care of these things for you or make time for you, that is how I show you that I care.'"

Ultimately, Dr. Bhattacharya says couples do not have to express love in exactly the same way. "What matters is whether they are willing to understand each other's needs and make some room for them."

"For me, healthy emotional communication is not about getting your partner to behave exactly the way you want. It is about helping each other understand, 'This is what love looks like to me, and this is what helps me feel loved.'"

What Vijay Deverakonda And Rashmika Mandanna's Conversation Says About Love

Vijay Deverakonda And Rashmika Mandanna's conversation highlights how comfort and familiarity in a relationship do not necessarily have to mean that small expressions of affection disappear. Saying how you feel, checking in on your partner or simply making time for them can help keep that emotional connection visible.

At the same time, as Dr. Bhattacharya explains, there is no magic number of times a couple needs to say "I love you". For some, those words may be a natural and important part of their relationship; for others, love may be communicated more through actions. What matters is recognising how each partner gives and receives affection and being willing to make room for both.