Open Marriages, Tier-1 vs Tier-2 City Divide: Decoding Infidelity in Modern India

Infidelity in India was once a word whispered in hushed tones, a subject too scandalous and dishonourable to even acknowledge. But things seem to be changing. With rising statistics of infidelity, conversations around cheating are also becoming more mainstream.

Cheating, which was once a taboo, is slowly coming out of the dark—not as a badge of honour—but as a topic people are beginning to embrace, discuss, and slowly normalise.

This article contains inputs from Ms. Sybil Shiddell, Country Manager of Gleeden India. Gleeden is one of the biggest extramarital dating apps in the country. It is an online dating community and social networking site aimed chiefly at women, particularly those in relationships.

Gleeden started in India in 2017 and has since seen a massive increase in subscribers. It has witnessed a 420% growth in its Indian community from having 8 lakh users in the pre-pandemic era to having over 3.5 million users in 2025.

Sybil says, “Thanks to the global cultural ideas around relationships and changing gender dynamics, people are examining and contemplating their relationship to cheating.”

She explains in detail, the changing nature of relationships and how they’re being redefined.

Cheating or Choice? Redefining Infidelity

One of the largest changes in the last number of years is the way people define cheating. For some, the definition of cheating is still very clear—anything aside from emotional or physical intimacy outside of marriage is wrong.

Read: Over Half of Married Indians Cheat: Why Many Are Questioning Monogamy

For many others, however, the conversation has shifted to "choice." Concepts like open relationships, polyamorous relationships, or casual arrangements are not foreign. While not every individual subscribes to those ideas, there is an ever-growing emergence of couples admitting that, as curiosity arose, they discussed these options, instead of hiding their curiosity under the proverbial rug.

Their openness reflects a cultural shift—from quiet judgment to open conversation. And when something becomes mutual and consensual, is it still valid to call it “cheating?”

The Tier-1 vs Tier-2 Divide

Geography plays an unexpected role in how societies view cheating and open relationships.

Infidelity in Tier 1 Cities

In Tier-1 cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru, the evidence is largely from the existence of experiences, independence and pace of life.

According to a survey conducted by Gleeden, in these cities 46% of people are transitioning towards alternative, more flexible relationship models, or at least opening their mind to the thought of it.

Here, people are more willing to try things, talk about things and redefine loyalty.

Infidelity in Tier 2 Cities

In a Tier-2 city, traditional values are more deeply rooted- that doesn't mean curiosity isn't as strong, either. 

Here are statistics from the study:

• 62% of respondents support the idea of “forever and only you.” In cities like Jaipur, Ludhiana, Patna, Kochi, Guwahati, and Indore monogamous love is alive and kicking.
• But 38% are slowly changing their views, with 66% having done so in the last 5 years.

Open relationships may not be as readily embraced, but that does not mean their interest is not quietly growing. The difference here is not what we want, but how much more brazen we are in admitting it.

Women Speaking Up on Infidelity

One more remarkable reversal is that more women are speaking up. Infidelity has been largely male-dominated for decades, but now, they are openly claiming their role to love, intimacy and connections outside of rigid structures.

Not only is this a challenge to patriarchal notions of loyalty, it is also a sign that women are asking for more than duty, endurance and patience from relationships.

From Secrets to Social Norm

Infidelity is certainly not something that is openly praised and celebrated in India, but at least it isn't a dirty little secret. The increased conversation on podcasts, forums and social media means people are at least actually talking about the elephant in the living room: marriages are certainly not rosy, desires are complicated, and loyalty embraces many shades of grey.

What was once just ridiculed as scandal is now normatively accepted as the course of social reality.

India is still a place where modern and traditional negotiations around space are regularly happening. Infidelity, open relationships, and novel definitions of love exist uncomfortably in that negotiation.

However, so long as the conversation exists about them - whether in the largest metropolitan centres or the most unremarkable towns - it means we are getting somewhere. Love, loyalty, and choice are no longer a black and white issue; they're grayscale now, and for the first time, it feels like Indians are ready to have conversations about it.