Divyanka Tripathi continues to be a vegetarian despite Vivek Dahiya’s attempts to make her eat non-veg food: ‘9 saal se inki shart chal rahi hai’

Divyanka Tripathi and Vivek Dahiya, who have been married for almost a decade, recently revealed their contrasting food preferences and how they are still finding a middle ground. “I am a vegetarian,” shared Divyanka, as Vivek gently nudged her to try tuna at her birthday lunch. “Try it. Aaj tumhara naya janam hojayega. Divyanka 2.0 from tonight,” teased Vivek in a YouTube video.

Responding, Divyanka, 41, said, “9 saal se inki shart chal rahi hai doston ke saath. Shaadi ke pehle inke saare friends ne kaha tha Divyanka is vegetarian, you eat non-vegetarian; how are you going to adjust? Inhone kaha tha main six mahine me usse badal dunga, dekhna. Uske baad se, 9 saal se, his friends tease him about it. Dusri cheez, ab yeh vegetarian hote jaa rahe hai (For nine years, he has had an ongoing bet with his friends who tease him about me being a vegetarian while he eats non-vegetarian food. He had remarked that he would change me in six months, but that has never happened, and he gets teased about it…in fact, he is slowly turning into a vegetarian.”

In his defence, Vivek, 41, shared in between laughs, “Hamesha haalat ke saath aadmi ko hi compromise karna padta hai (it is always men who have to compromise with the situation).”

Taking a cue from their friendly banter, let’s understand how couples can navigate differences in food and lifestyle habits.

Choices are personal (Photo: Getty Images/Thinkstock)

In food choices, lifestyle habits, spiritual practices, or even parenting styles, many couples fall into subtle battles.

“One partner pushes, the other resists. Over time, resentment replaces intimacy. But when preferences are expressed with calm ownership rather than emotional pressure, the relationship becomes a space of curiosity instead of control,” said psychotherapist and life coach Delnna Rrajesh.

This is where many couples misunderstand compatibility. Compatibility is not sameness. It is emotional respect. When one person does not feel pressured to abandon their identity to keep the relationship intact, trust deepens. And when the other partner witnesses that clarity without threat, they often grow towards it organically.

From a psychological lens, this is called non-coercive influence. It works because it does not activate defences. “There is no power struggle. No proving. No covert shame. The nervous system stays regulated, and learning happens naturally,” described Delnna.

What actually happens internally in such moments is essential to understand.

That is why real change in relationships rarely comes from persuasion. It comes from witnessing someone live their truth without fear.

For couples, the practical takeaway is simple but powerful. “Do not try to convert your partner. Do not moralise your preferences. Do not use love as leverage for compliance. Instead, live your values with warmth and steadiness. Let your choices speak. Let your partner feel free, not managed,” said Delnna.

DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to.