Filmdom has changed and there are numerous measures of the hip and savvy transformation of the Tinsel Town over the years. Think of it for a moment: The nine yard long sari has been replaced by a skimpy two piece bikini, the cussing villain has been swapped with a suave antagonist and the hero is no longer a die-hard crime fighting machine, but a natural happy go lucky fella - more humane and more believable.

But though many of these onscreen changes have been successfully translated off screen, the one aspect that hasn’t changed in this ever-dwindling world of glitz and blitz is the possessiveness and intrusive acts of the filmy mommies and daddies and their baggage of idiosyncrasies.

Nothing has changed there… Bollywood parents are as meddlesome and domineering today as they were generations ago. May be more so today than ever! The parent trap is much more active, considering the wide network present-day parents have access to.

With most of them being in the same trade and having lived a life of glamour and glory, nothing about their children's lives goes unnoticed from their prying eyes.

Throughout the history of cinema, there have been greater tragic love stories off-screen than onscreen. Hearts have been crushed, tears have been shed and it’s often the parents who have played villains and called an end to blooming love affairs that in some cases could have ended in conjugal bliss.

Going in a flashback mode - remember the golden couple of yore Dilip Kumar and Madhubala? The couple that had the nation falling in love with the idea of love with their riveting chemistry had to scrum to the pressure of their families and marry much against their wishes.

But, before we start boasting about how much we have progressed since then as we celebrate Article 377 and embrace social networking sites, let us tell you that parental control has become more unnerving and haughty.

Don’t believe it? Just take a look at the current generations' filmdom parents fiercely holding on to the reins of their children’s lives. From making their career decisions, opting for the right kind of social circle, to even planning out their diet charts, filmy parents turn excessively conniving when it comes to spying about their kid’s love interest.

Be it Kareena- Karisma’s overtly cautious mum Babita, Aishwarya Rai’s sober mommy or even the lesser-known and even lesser-liked Adhyayan’s dad Shekhar Suman, all are scanning their kids’ life with a microscope.

A slight hint of a romantic alliance is enough to make them jump and go hysterical. And more often than not, we find a flourishing romance crash before it could even take off on a dreamy sojourn.

Talking about grief-stricken couples that gave in to the adverse pressure of their snooty mommies and stern daddies, one just has to mention the infamous Abhishek and Karisma episode. Though now, Jr B is basking in marital bliss owing to the gorgeous Aishwarya whose endearing beauty and ideal media mannerism make her a perfect fit for the Bachchan family, it was his rocky affair with the Kapoor belle Karisma that gave him his first heartburn.

Coming from the two most dominant families of the industry, the duo made a killer combo of power and fame. But sadly their love couldn’t survive the havoc their parents unleashed. According to the grapevine, it was Babita’s constant interference that thwarted their engagement.

And though Abhishek couldn’t stop gushing over his lucky stars, Karisma was seen repenting just months after her hasty marriage to businessman Sanjay Kapur. Crying foul and hurling infidelity accusations, the feisty belle dragged Sanjay to court over a messy child custody battle. Learning from her mistakes, mum Babita, reportedly decided to end the feud by playing peacemaker this time and restored her daughter’s marriage.

But while Abhishek had a sole sore affair with the Kapoor lass, his now wife, Ash, went on a heartbreaking spree after her passionate but horrid love saga with Salman. On a rebound ride, the gorgeous lass mocked many hearts and kissed many frogs (Vivek Oberoi the jumpiest of the lot) before one of them metamorphosed into her Prince Charming - Abhishek.

As to what called an end to the torrent Ash-Sallu affair, was never known but many reported that Ash’s mum never approved of Salman’s wild ways and impulsive actions. Well, for a daughter whose highflying career had turned her into a globetrotting celebrity with a sparkling international repute, Ash’s mum sure had bigger aspirations for her.

But as Ash went to become the crown jewel of the Bachchan family, Sallu was left to bite the dust till he found solace in Katrina.

There are umpteen other tragedies that owe their birth to celeb parent’s whims and fancies. Be it Ness-Preity love paradise, that shattered after the Wadia mum Maureen refused to give green signal to the dimpled-beauty, or Shekhar Suman dotingly directing his son Adhyayan’s heart towards a femme less fatal than Kangana, there seems to be no immediate respite from parental despotism.

Given that the Gen X actors, who are intoxicated on success and cry out for a greater control over their wild ways, it’s anything but obvious that parents have to stay on their constant guard. But aren’t these filmy parents tying the noose a little too tight?

Isn’t it about time to let go of the yardstick and condescending interferences? Let our stars shine onscreen and off-screen and for once let them craft their own fairytales and make their own mistakes.