India has come a long way since its independence from Britain in the mid-1940s.

Think about the ways of traditional India and its limitations on the Indian woman and you'll get a better idea about India's journey and transformation.

With more Indians traveling and returning to their motherland to settle down (sometimes referred to as non-resident Indians), women have brought with them a mix of various lifestyles from Europe, the Orient and the Americas.

Perhaps the poor in India have little choice but to carry on their lives as is dictated to them by the lack of equal opportunities in the country. But the affluent have plenty of choices. And these range from where to live, what to live and whether to marry. Sometimes, the relevant issue is whom to marry, particularly when it comes to caste and religious barriers.

This scenario is depicted cleverly in the comedy romance thriller, Chennai Express starring Deepika Padukone and Sharukh Khan as a South Indian girl who is in love with a North Indian guy. The rest should be self-explanatory or you can seen the film to know more.

The leading actress has been dubbed the "Deepika phenomenon" in India because of the sensational wave she has created in her craft and the exuberant enthusiasm she projects to her audience. Teaming up with veteran actor and Bollywood regular Shahrukh Khan, they have created a film that truly explores the topic of romance in an interracial and inter-religious country that makes it inevitable not to maintain barriers.

It's sort of like asking your heart to run in one direction and your mind in another.

Deepika comments on the topic saying, "Today's girls are so sure of what they want. Lifestyles have changed, cultures have changed. Girls have become a lot more vocal and they are in a better position today." Parents disapproval of a spouse or marrying someone of a different caste is no longer considered to be the abhorring thing to do. Women have gained control and they can choose.

The newly decorated actress who is the daughter of India's renowned badminton player, Prakash Padukone says, "May be that's why girls don't need to elope. Also parents understand it's not about religion, caste, but it's important that their daughter should be happy with whomsoever she wants to be married. Parents opposition might be in India, but its less in today's age in India," reports the Times of India.