Relationships going kaput due to height?

Does height really matter in a relationship? When a shorter Govinda wooed his taller boss Katrina Kaif in the 2007-hit Partner, the height difference was conveniently pushed to the background, as love blossomed between the lead pair. Some real-life ex-couples such as Salman Rushdie and Padma Lakshmi, and Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes were married despite the height difference. However, conservativeness seems to rule the roost, as height differences have proved to be a major hindrance in culmination of a relationship. City-based media student Subha was one of the victims of this mindset. Subha, who is close to six-feet tall, never felt her height to be a problem. That was the case at least before it became a bone of contention with the person she was in love with. “I was in love with this person who was a bit short in height compared to me. When I sent out hints that I was interested in him, he put me off, saying, ‘See your height. People will make fun of us when we walk together hand-in-hand.” She broke up soon over the height issue. Subha is not alone. Radhika is a few inches taller than her boyfriend. “When we started dating, our height was never a problem. But now, my boyfriend insists that I don’t wear heels when I meet him.”There are also others like Apporva, a city-based basketball player and close to six-feet tall, who says she doesn’t get attracted to shorter guys. “I’m not attracted to them. In my field, I do get to meet tall guys. But I would rather have a relationship with a tall guy from another field.” So, currently, her search is on. Does it imply shorter men feel insecure to date a taller woman? Karthik H, who was in a relationship with a taller girl earlier, dismisses the idea. He says a shorter man shouldn’t be facing insecurities because of the height difference. “Unless the girl herself points it out, there won’t be much insecurity. As a short guy, I can vouch for this. Of course, people stare and point it out, but it doesn't bother you after a certain point,” he says. However, R Ganesh Ram, a city-based model and around six-foot tall, says being shorter will pose its own problems during a relationship. “Having a taller girlfriend is no big deal. But we may not enjoy certain things like dancing in a ball room. And then, we guys can never walk tall, even if we are one among the spartans.” Ganesh has a point. French President Nicolas Sarkozy is one of the most powerful men in the world, but he chose to wear shoes with built-up heels to match up to his taller wife Carla Bruni.