Ever since Netflix's hit reality show Indian Matchmaking began streaming in 2020, Sima Taparia — or, as she prefers to call herself, "Sima from Mumbai" — has become something of a household name.
Known for her meme-worthy and close-to-the-bone opinions on what it takes to find the right life partner — "Marriages nowadays are like biscuits, they keep breaking“ — Taparia is no doubt the breakout star of the show, which is about India's flourishing arranged marriage system.
And despite being unable to secure successful matches for any of the candidates featured in the show's first season, Taparia, who is lovingly called Sima aunty by her clients, is back for season two, which began streaming last week.
Armed with an even more extensive docket of candidates and featuring some fresh faces as well as a few cast members from the previous season still looking for their partners, Taparia is again front and centre in season two of Indian Matchmaking, albeit with an evidently higher wardrobe budget.
Here are some of her most interesting takes:
Warning: spoilers for season two ahead.
'Compromise, compromise'
One overriding principle in Sima aunty's method, and possibly her way to guarantee success, is compromise. Once her clients have given her their checklists of what they're looking for in a partner, she tells them they should be happy to settle for less.
"You have a long list, sorry to say," she tells one client, Viral, who looks clearly taken aback. "[If] you can dilute your criteria by 60 to 70 per cent, that will be good. It's not realistic that you must get all the things."
'First is marriage, then love'
Everything gets "adjusted" after marriage, according to Sima aunty. And that is the beauty of arranged marriages. "You have to adjust a little, then life becomes beautiful and smooth," she tells the camera at the beginning of season two. "That's my advice to all youngsters."
She then sets the scene for what's to come.
"No matter how many successful matches I make, matchmaking is a job that will never be finished," she says.
'You have to put in the effort. The rest is up to destiny'
Meeting new client Akshay, who's unable to find a partner willing to move with him to his chicken factory in Nashik, about three hours from Mumbai, Sima aunty advises him to put in the work.
Then, a few seconds later, she contradicts herself.
"Even if he was Nick Jonas, I do not think Priyanka would shift to his chicken factory," she tells the camera without a hint of irony.
There's certainly effort involved, but it takes time, too, and the rest is fate. While season one ended without any successful matches, season two opens with a wedding, for a match arranged by Taparia.
"We have shown this is the process of matchmaking," she said, speaking to today.com ahead of season two's premiere about how season one was filmed over five months. "In real life, I work for two years for one client and still they’re not getting married. Why? Everything is destiny. How can I expect in five months you want a success story in season one? How can we expect that? Netflix has shown what is Indian matchmaking, that's all."
'Ask "yes" or "no" and finish the topic'
Sima aunty is no fan of waiting around or being coy. While chastising client Nadia, a fan-favourite from season one, who's hit it off with one of her matches, Shekhar, but is unable to commit, she urges her to move things along.
"Talking and hanging for months and months, there is no point. Both of you are wasting your time," she tells her.
...and that other Priyanka Chopra-Nick Jonas comment
Now armed with a clear understanding of meme-worthy comments, Sima aunty makes a Priyanka Chopra-Nick Jonas dig that is probably one of the show's most controversial moments.
After discovering that Nadia had been non-committal about her growing relationship with Shekhar because she's attracted to a man seven years younger, she warns her it's not going end well.
"Maturity is very important. You are much more mature than him," Sima aunty tells Nadia. "I think two to three years is OK, but seven years is a lot."
When Nadia points out to her that Chopra is 10 years older than Jonas, Sima aunty waves her off.
"I don't feel it's a good match, sorry to tell that. He looks so small and petite in front of her and she looks elder," Sima Aunty says.
Nadia, however, follows her heart eventually, and makes a potentially disastrous decision later in the show.
Indian Matchmaking season two is now streaming on Netflix
All you need to know about Formula E in Saudi Arabia
What The Saudia Ad Diriyah E-Prix
When Saturday
Where Diriyah in Saudi Arabia
What time Qualifying takes place from 11.50am UAE time through until the Super Pole session, which is due to end at 12.55pm. The race, which will last for 45 minutes, starts at 4.05pm.
Who is competing There are 22 drivers, from 11 teams, on the grid, with each vehicle run solely on electronic power.
Salah in numbers
€39 million: Liverpool agreed a fee, including add-ons, in the region of €39m (nearly Dh176m) to sign Salah from Roma last year. The exchange rate at the time meant that cost the Reds £34.3m - a bargain given his performances since.
13: The 25-year-old player was not a complete stranger to the Premier League when he arrived at Liverpool this summer. However, during his previous stint at Chelsea, he made just 13 Premier League appearances, seven of which were off the bench, and scored only twice.
57: It was in the 57th minute of his Liverpool bow when Salah opened his account for the Reds in the 3-3 draw with Watford back in August. The Egyptian prodded the ball over the line from close range after latching onto Roberto Firmino's attempted lob.
7: Salah's best scoring streak of the season occurred between an FA Cup tie against West Brom on January 27 and a Premier League win over Newcastle on March 3. He scored for seven games running in all competitions and struck twice against Tottenham.
3: This season Salah became the first player in Premier League history to win the player of the month award three times during a term. He was voted as the division's best player in November, February and March.
40: Salah joined Roger Hunt and Ian Rush as the only players in Liverpool's history to have scored 40 times in a single season when he headed home against Bournemouth at Anfield earlier this month.
30: The goal against Bournemouth ensured the Egyptian achieved another milestone in becoming the first African player to score 30 times across one Premier League campaign.
8: As well as his fine form in England, Salah has also scored eight times in the tournament phase of this season's Champions League. Only Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, with 15 to his credit, has found the net more often in the group stages and knockout rounds of Europe's premier club competition.
Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More on Quran memorisation:
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Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
How Islam's view of posthumous transplant surgery changed
Transplants from the deceased have been carried out in hospitals across the globe for decades, but in some countries in the Middle East, including the UAE, the practise was banned until relatively recently.
Opinion has been divided as to whether organ donations from a deceased person is permissible in Islam.
The body is viewed as sacred, during and after death, thus prohibiting cremation and tattoos.
One school of thought viewed the removal of organs after death as equally impermissible.
That view has largely changed, and among scholars and indeed many in society, to be seen as permissible to save another life.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Race results:
1. Thani Al Qemzi (UAE) Team Abu Dhabi: 46.44 min
2. Peter Morin (FRA) CTIC F1 Shenzhen China Team: 0.91sec
3. Sami Selio (FIN) Mad-Croc Baba Racing Team: 31.43sec
Founders: Abdulmajeed Alsukhan, Turki Bin Zarah and Abdulmohsen Albabtain.
Based: Riyadh
Offices: UAE, Vietnam and Germany
Founded: September, 2020
Number of employees: 70
Sector: FinTech, online payment solutions
Funding to date: $116m in two funding rounds
Investors: Checkout.com, Impact46, Vision Ventures, Wealth Well, Seedra, Khwarizmi, Hala Ventures, Nama Ventures and family offices
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
Book%20Details
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