Several conversations and some research later one found that indeed the popularly held belief was: Ugly (or not-so-good-looking) men bag the prettiest girls. But is it really true?

Before you read further, tell us what you think:

1. How important are looks when it comes to finding a suitable partner?

2. Do good-looking people have better chances of finding love or a spouse?

3. ‘Plain’ people have good-looking partners: Myth or reality? It’s no secret that most matrimonial ads, especially for girls, will read thus: ‘Good looking girl, well-educated, homely, working, etc."

Even ads for boys today – after mentioning ‘earns in six figures’ – will say how he is tall, good looking, etc. Given that pictures exchanged in the arranged marriage scenario are mostly professionally shot, it’s a case of showing your son/daughter/yourself in the best possible "light".

And then of course there is Photoshop. How important are looks when it comes to falling in love or finding a life partner and how does one ensure not being left behind single? When it comes to responding to good looks, many a research has proven that other than some cultural differences, most people react to a similar set of signals or criterion.

From the symmetry of faces (which means symmetrical, cute babies), the size of the hips (a low waist-hip ratio means more fertile women), how another person smells and the facial features (‘feminine’ women and ‘masculine’ men have more chances of ‘mating’), there are some standard things that most people find attractive.

And most of them have to do with eventual reproductive ability and how good a dad/mom you will make. However, when you are looking at dating someone or catching an interesting prospect’s eye at the office party, you are hopefully not thinking babies instantly.

If we keep marriage aside for the time being: What makes some ‘plain’ men and women more of a hit with the opposite sex? In a quick survey amongst friends and colleagues, 57 per cent of those polled said that plain people score more with the opposite sex because they don’t rely only on their looks and usually have other qualities going for them.

Like using their brains or their sense of humour. "He makes me laugh" is something many women list as one of the most desirable traits in a man.

"He likes me for who I am," is another one, which basically means you don’t go comparing your woman to a swimsuit calendar model or some such thing. Some women said that a plain looking man treats women better than a good-looking one.

Why? "Because a plain looker doesn’t think he is God’s gift to womankind," replied one girl. Then there could be other not-so-pleasant reasons too… No woman, pretty or otherwise wants to think that her man will stray.

In such a scenario a man’s lack of looks can at times become insurance against his cheating on a woman. It is also thought that since good looking people will probably too full of themselves – both men and women – they will not have time for another person in their life.

Of course when it comes to marriage and making babies, we’re talking a different ball game. To start with, most researches and surveys say that men lay more importance on their partner’s looks even if the said man is not as good looking himself.

Women on the other hand look for stability and the qualities in a man that can give her that stability. A 2007 research by Thomas Pollet and Daniel Nettle of Newcastle University that was published in the journal Biology Letters says that in the marriage market it’s a man’s riches and not his looks that are the most important criterion.

To put it simply: He who provides, gets the pretty bride. Does that mean that a really ugly but rich man can get a beautiful wife? Yes, if you look at cases like the VERY rich Donald Trump and Melania Knauss. But that doesn’t mean the plain guys have no chance…

"Have a big car, make her laugh, spend money on her and anyone can win over any woman," jokes a hit-with-chicks male friend has to say who doesn’t even have a big car.