Sima Taparia of Indian Matchmaking-fame says more the memes, more the show becomes popular

When the web series Indian Matchmaking released in 2020, it set tongues wagging on social media as it highlighted one of the country’s archaic traditions — arranged marriage. A year later, the show has been nominated at the upcoming 73rd Emmy Awards. Sima Taparia, a Mumbai-based elite matchmaker, became popular as Sima aunty and due to her catchphrase, “Hi, I am Sima Taparia from Mumbai”. She is over-the-moon after the Emmy nod, and lacks words to express her gratitude.

“Indian Matchmaking has completed one year and the show has gone to the Emmy Awards. I am grateful and cannot even express. Us going to the Emmys is a very big achievement,” Sima said. In the eight-part series, Sima goes about trying to find suitable matches for her affluent clients in India and abroad.

Decoding the popularity of the show globally, Sima says it was the realistic approach that made the show binge-worthy.

“The whole world enjoyed it because it was a reality show. The way I am talking to you, the same way I was talking there; just the camera was following me. I was simple and humble, and that is the way I was portrayed. So, the show was a hit and all my Indian values were portrayed in the show,” the real-life matchmaker said.

Real touch

For Sima, Indian Matchmaking really “rocked the world”. She added: “So, people loved me and it was a reality show. Everyone loved Sima aunty. It rocked the world. It was beyond my dream that the show would rock the world and be so successful. I have got global recognition and popularity.”

Sima, or Sima aunty as is liked to be called, remains unfazed. Instead, she says she enjoyed the social media banter. “It didn’t affect me because in everything there is a little negative and positive. More the negatives and positives the more the show got popular. It didn’t affect me even one per cent,” Sima said.

In fact, Sima lauded the creativity of people making her memes. “Also, so many memes are there! What creativity of our people in India,” laughed Sima. — IANS