'Indian Matchmaking' on Netflix: How Sima Taparia thinks arranged marriages have evolved over time
Netflix is back with the second installment of 'Indian Matchmaking' hosted by Sima Taparia. The show is a reality television series where matchmaker Sima Taparia guides clients in the US and India in the arranged marriage process, offering an inside look at the age-old custom that survives through the modern era.
Sima is a matchmaking professional from Gulbarga, Karnataka, India. She has been in the business long enough to understand its intricacies.
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Who is Sima Taparia?
Sima is a 57-year-old matchmaking professional from Gulbarga, Karnataka. She has been in the profession of marriage consultation for quite a while now and currently lives in Mumbai. She is married to Anup Taparia, who is a businessman from Mumbai and runs a company named 'Suitable Rishta.' The company primarily deals with marriage counseling.
In an interview with the Indian Express, Sima revealed what led her to matchmaking. She spoke about how she managed to turn her hobby into a profession, saying, "I was always an extrovert. My parents noticed that I formed connections and remembered names and faces with ease. What was initially a hobby turned into a profession. I’ve been doing this for about 15 years now. But I believe that when you pursue your hobby as a profession, you're not really 'working.'"
Have arranged marriages evolved over time?
Sima thinks times have changed how parents find matches to their children. She said, "The idea of arranged marriages has also evolved. Gone are the days when parents would find matches and marry their children to suitable partners. These days children also play an active part in the process of matchmaking. And sometimes, they feel they need some extra guidance and help." She adds that today's young men and women are their own people and it is up to the family to decide what they need to do while she makes sure she does not interfere with the process.
When asked if young men and women do not want to settle down nowadays, she replies, "I believe that differs from person to person. Today’s generation certainly has more goals and aspirations for their careers, but that doesn’t mean they do not want to settle down. Everyone takes their own time."
Catch the second installment of 'Indian Matchmaking' that airs exclusively on Netflix this August 10.