Call it love or whatever, marriages outside caste or religion are on the rise thanks to a new, bold breed of children and a far more generous lot of parents. But have we ever imagined that this would happen even in the higher echelons of the society – the families of mighty politicians, influential bureaucrats and powerful business tycoons giving their royal assent to their children’s love lives and even walking them up the aisle?

It’s happening for sure and the ‘crossovers’ are really sending the elders for a broader mind makeover! Guess what? Even the regional divide is hardly a hindrance for these young couples after breaking the more powerful walls of caste and religion. Two such recent prospects would drive home this point beyond any doubt.

The news of Home Minister Sabita Indra Reddy’s elder son Karthik with Sravanthi, his soulmate from college days, comes as a double delight and surprise. In a heartening development, both families instantly agreed for their marriage. A few days ago, the state was informed about another high-profile crossover marriage between Vidyavathi, the daughter of the ‘regal’ TDP leader Ashoka Gajapathi Raju, and Bhuvan Yadav, son of former DGP S S P Yadav.

Let’s bring you some of the high-profile love marriages that broke all the barriers in their way:

KARTHIK REDDY-SRAVANTHI: Cupid struck the couple, the son of home minister and daughter of a Brahmin bank manager, when they were in college. Sravanthi’s family migrated to Hyderabad from East Godavari decades back (KCR might prefer the prefix ‘settler’ for her!).

BHUVAN-VIDYAVATHI: Vidyavathi, a medico, is a descendant of the Pusapati royal family and the second daughter of senior TDP leader Ashoka Gajapathi Raju. Bhuvan, the elder son of S S P Yadav is an MBA and currently working with Karvy group. Their love received immediate approval from Ashoka Gajapathi Raju but not from Yadav. The two are planning to tie the knot in Vijayanagaram.

SHARMILA-ANIL KUMAR: The bold daughter of later Y S Rajasekhara Reddy defied a powerful factional clan and destiny to be reunited with the man she loved, Anil Kumar, who is now a high-profile preacher. People say, it was primarily YSR who showed a big heart and resolved the problem peacefully through their marriage.

MANCHU MANOJ-VERONICA: The most unexpected and unlikely couple until the news broke out about their engagement. The interest of Manoj, the elder son of film actor Mohan Babu, in Veronica who is the daughter of YSR’s younger brother, was initially met with some resistance. But everything ended in their peaceful marriage after the two families came beyond caste and religion to bless the couple.

MAHESH BABU-NAMRATA: Telugu super star Mahesh Babu got hitched even before he could be recognised as the most eligible bachelor. His marriage to Bollywood actress Namratha Sirodkar raised eyebrows since his family was not in favour of it initially. He got married to his older life partner in Mumbai. The differences seem to have been buried with time and both families are a happy unit.

NAGARJUNA-AMALA: It’s a pretty old tale but still fresh to talk about crossover marriages and a successful one at that. It was Nag’s second marriage after divorcing star producer Rama Naidu’s daughter.

APOLLO-KAMINENI FUSION: Shobhana, the daughter of Apollo Group chairman Pratap C Reddy, was married into the Kamineni family as a culmination of a love story.

Likewise, NFCL’s KVS Raju wedded a Kamma lady who divorced Yarlagadda Harishchandra Prasad. It was second wedding for Raju as well.