-[phone ringing] -[romantic music playing]
-[Radhika on phone] Hello? Hi. -Hello. Hi.
What's up?
Nothing. What about you?
Just-- I was traveling. Thought I would speak to you.
You're traveling alone?
Yeah. For work.
Okay.
And tell me, like, you know... uh, something about you.
[both laugh]
[Akshay] When I met Radhika for the first time,
everything was nice, but we're still getting to know each other.
We're talking for five, ten minutes, and, "What is going on?"
I was very, very awkward,
and even if she's saying something... [stammers]
"I don't understand what you're saying." Obviously, I'm not saying that,
but I'm just like, "Okay."
And, like, do you like dogs and all?
[Radhika] I like dogs. Yeah, they're loyal, no?
I mean, yeah.
I don't like cats. I'm scared.
Nobody likes cats. It's not good.
You don't like cats? [laughs]
What are you doing now?
[laughs] I'm talking to you only.
[laughs] Okay.
And... what's up?
Nothing.
[romantic music continues]
[clock ticking]
[Prakash] So Akshay... what do you think about Radhika?
Uh...
[in Hindi] Hey! Did you like the girl? What's the deal?
[Akshay laughs]
I think the more and more I speak to her...
[in Hindi] ...then I'll be able to give an answer.
Hmm. Yeah, I agree. But how many times you want to meet?
[in Hindi] You saw at least 50 to 100 girls.
-[in English] You've seen the girls. Huh? -Hmm.
[in Hindi] It shouldn't be that you just keep saying again and again--
As I meet her, then I'll know. [laughs]
[in English] She's beautiful, educated.
She's chartered accountant, plus MBA.
[in Hindi] She has good height.
[in English] That there was no chance for you to say no.
Everything is so excellent.
[in Hindi] Your mom is going to get upset.
[in English] She has taken a lot of effort
-for this girl and a lot, many girls. -[Akshay laughs]
Every week she used to get two proposals for you.
[in Hindi] But it's okay. Now how do you placate your mom?
[laughs]
[in English] If you say yes to this girl, no, she will be happy.
-All right. -She's very good.
[in Hindi] We can't say no to her.
-[laughs] -Hmm.
[Akshay] My parents are super excited, but everything is new for me.
All this was-- The whole process is very new.
When you meet the person, then you get to know.
The pressure is the most emotionally-challenging thing.
You figure out whatever doubts you have got in your mind,
and then you decide.
[pop music playing]
So this is the first guy. Um...
He said he's looking for an ideal partner who's also Sikh,
and that's me.
And he said he's open to meeting a woman who's divorced and has children.
-So that's nice. -[Emily] Fair.
When it comes to Rupam, she wants a Sikh boy,
and her father is adamant about that also.
So I sent her two new biodatas.
And then, the next guy.
Oh!
I've actually gone on a date with this guy. That's really interesting.
-[Emily] What? -[Rupam] I know.
It was, like, super brief.
I think he liked me because he kept saying how amazing I was.
Mm-hmm.
But then he was like,"Oh, do you know anyone like you?" I don't know.
-[Emily] What does he mean by that? -I don't know.
Sima actually did take my feedback to heart, um,
and came back with people that I thought were more appropriate
for what I was looking for.
And then actually, out of nowhere,
on Bumble one weekend,
I met someone.
-Oh, my goodness! Tell me about him. -Yeah.
I was on an online dating app.
I came across him.
He's a Sikh guy. He's a single parent.
Just a really humble guy, um,
and I sent him a message, and he responded.
We talked on the phone right away,
and we've talked on the phone every day since then.
The decision was do I move forward with the guy who's Sikh
who I've already talked to a couple times on the phone
and seem to enjoy talking to and like,
or do I go forward with a matchmaker and an arranged marriage?
It's a lot of things to think about and process.
So do you see this going anywhere with him, like, long-term?
Um...
I don't know.
[both laugh]
-[phone ringing] -[Mansha on phone] Hi!
Hi, Mansha. What's up? What have you been doing?
Nothing. How's life and everything? I haven't spoken to you in a while.
So, I mean, I've been doing a lot of thinking,
and you know about this girl, right, the one in Udaipur.
I think I've made a decision now.
What?
Are you gonna tell me? What is this suspense?
I think I'm going to say yes.
-Yes! -Yeah.
What?
I think she is the one.
Oh, my God!
Yeah.
Are you joking? Are you not change-- This is it?
No, this is it. Like, 110%, I'm serious.
Bro! Congratulations! What the hell?
[Akshay] Getting to know a new person, it's like everything is so new and fresh,
but it is going really good.
Her nature is, uh, the best quality I like about her.
In general, everything is good.
This is the kind of feeling I didn't get with anyone else in the past who I met.
What are you gonna wear?
-I don't know. -What am I gonna wear?
Well, let the date at least come, the wedding day.
Let me first say yes to them.
Low-key, I was, like, praying for you,
and this is the effect of my prayers.
So technically, indirectly, this is happening because of me.
So you're welcome.
Oh, really? [laughs]
Yeah, of course!
You just have to pay me in desserts, and that's okay. And there you go.
[laughs]
[Akshay] It's been a few days since the first time the family met,
but I feel that sense, you know, the inner sense that comes in that,
"Okay. She is the one." This is the girl I want to marry.
This is perfect, you know? What more can you ask for?
You better prepare for the wedding, sangeet,
because you are gonna dance.
Yeah, I'm in. I'm so ready! Oh, my God!
[laughs]
And what else are you gonna do?
Obviously, your outfit, because, Akshay, I love you,
but I've seen how you dress, and I need to help you pick out--
[laughs]
Wow! I'm still processing it. So final?
Final. Full and final. This is it, and this is who I want to marry.
-[knocking on door] -[door opens]
[woman] Rupam, hi!
You look nice.
Thank you.
Hi!
Aw!
[Rupam] I was visiting my sister in New York.
-How are you? -I'm good.
Hi, baby.
God, dude, she just scratched the fuckin' shit out of me.
My sister married an American man,
but she has raised her children with a lot of Sikh traditions.
So this is when we went to Paris.
That was when you said you were feeling sick.
-[Manu] Oh, yeah. -And you still ate fried chicken.
Mama, look. Mama.
I think my family never wanted me to feel desperate about finding someone
just for the sake of finding someone.
They very much wanted me to find someone that was right.
[Jaipreet] So how's life?
Dating wasn't going well, and then I came across a guy who was Sikh.
[Manu] Oh, wow.
Um, and a single dad.
We're just getting to know each other,
but it's been really promising so far.
-He's Sikh. He's a single dad. -[Rupam] He's Sikh. He's a single dad.
-Is he tall? -Five-ten.
-[Manu] Tall enough! -For an Indian guy.
Tall matters. [laughs]
[Rupam] Yeah. So we're in a long-distance relationship.
We've gone out a couple times, but in some ways, it's better,
'cause I feel like you get to know someone really well
because you spend so much time talking to them.
[Rupam] I decided to delete all my online profiles
and just decided to focus only on him.
Well, that's good.
I'm happy for you.
Yeah, me too.
As a Sikh woman, meeting someone, you know,
who understands, sort of, your life experience
and not spend all this time explaining who I am, is a great feeling.
I don't wanna get our hopes up, but, you know, it's...
This is the first time I've met someone where...
I feel like all the puzzle pieces really fit together.
-Yeah. Right. -[Rupam] On Bumble too.
It's a divine happening, Rupam.
I don't know if divine happenings happen on Bumble.
[all laugh]
[Rupam] Some of the things Sima said to me, like, really helped me
in my relationship with the guy she didn't introduce me to,
uh, because she emphasized the importance
of, like, only focusing on one person at one time.
It was the first time I met someone
where I didn't get distracted by all the other guys that are out there.
I hope everything works out.
-Yeah. I hope so too. I'm hopeful, though. -[Manu] Yeah.
The realization that you can meet someone, and it just feels easy and not like work
is just amazing.
-[Sima] If you're happy, we all are happy. -[Rupam on phone] Thank you.
I think you got a Sikh boy, so your father's criteria also is satisfied.
I feel very proud of Rupam, and I want her to be happy whoever she meets
and be happy in her life, and I will always support her.
We are just to spread happiness. That's all.
[Rupam] Oh, that's really nice.
Even if it's through us or through anybody else.
In India, we believe in the idea of the Nimit.
A Nimit is a person who is destined to bring two persons together.
The marriages are made in heaven,
and God has given me the job to make it successful on earth.
If it's not through me, at least you are finding a good match,
and I will be very happy for that if it gets finalized.
I'm always happy when someone finds their match.
[Rupam] I think the other thing is when you're "Insta-official."
I have made us Insta-official.
He has not. [laughs]
But I'm really excited about the future.
I'm in a place where I'm gonna have someone by my side.
[slow pop music playing]
I still think, like, uh...
that whole matchmaker thing, like, sounds like it's out of a movie.
I've learned quite a bit about myself, like I told you the other day also...
-Yeah. -...through this.
Self-preservation is one of them.
-And you've been-- Like, I don't know. -Yeah, I--
Correct me if I'm wrong, but, like, your Instagram has changed.
I don't know. You just seem... chill.
I like it.
-Is it 'cause of the-- -[Ankita] Matchmaker?
I think that was a turning point for me.
So she suggested I go to a life coach.
"Talk about this issue. Remove it from your head.
She'll put some positive guidance in your mind,
and you will be a new leaf."
-Turn a new leaf. -You'll be a new leaf!
-No, you'll be a new leaf. -She said that?
You will be a new leaf, Ayesha.
-I don't want to be a leaf at all. -[laughing] No.
Being a financially independent, "modern" woman
in today's Indian society is difficult,
but I feel... great.
I've not felt the need of going out and meeting new people
because I'm so content, and I realize that spending time with myself
is what I actually enjoy the most.
[Ankita] So yeah, dude, I think I'm quite content right now,
especially with work going so well. Touch wood.
-I mean, it's so awesome to see that. -Yeah.
Yeah, 'cause like your business is your fucking baby.
Yeah, it is.
And now you've embraced it.
I embraced it completely. Fully.
I think I found my center point
that grounds me.
So I've been watching Friends on a daily basis, and I realized,
worst comes to worst, man, we all get, like, a apartment together. Move in.
What do you mean, "Worst comes to worst"? That in my head, is the best--
Best comes to best, we get an apartment together, and we'll move in.
Dude, that is not even a nice saying.
I'm anyway Phoebe. Anyways, everyone thinks I'm Phoebe.
-It's cool. I'll never find-- -I don't get Friends references.
The confidence that's come in after the brand has picked up,
it's what's made me so complete and strong.
-Is this your new collection? -This is my new collection.
Oh, that's amazing. Come on. Let's take a look at everything.
I genuinely felt for the first time that I own a goddamn business.
I am a businesswoman.
I feel so free from the attachment of finding a partner for life.
When the guy does come along,
I think it's going to be a brand new canvas to paint on.
[Sima] I'm a matchmaker
because I want people to create best lives for themselves.
When it comes to Ankita, she has decided this is a time to focus on her career,
knowing that she'll have a happy life and get peace of mind.
[pop song playing]
♪ If nothing in the world changes ♪
♪ I won't try to change for you ♪
Up! [laughs]
Hey!
♪ I was just afraid to ♪
[song ends]
[slow guitar music playing]
[Sima] In India, the engagements move forward quickly.
When the parents and the children say, "Yes, we are okay. Now we can proceed,"
the whole process can happen in one or two weeks,
and they get married soon.
[Preeti] We are in Udaipur. My younger son got engaged just a week back.
We've come here with the family for the engagement ceremony.
And we are really all very, very happy for Akshay.
And finally, he agreed to say yes, and Radhika is to be daughter-in-law.
Yeah, come now.
[Preeti] This is the Roka.
Roka in Hindi means "stop."
The girl is stopped from getting engaged
or going to other family.
Now, it is considered that the girl is ours.
The girl is engaged to my son.
[man in Hindi] What a beautiful couple!
[Akshay] Everything is happening a little super fast.
It's kind of super hectic and stressful,
but I think it's going in the right direction,
so it's really, really nice.
[inaudible]
[Preeti] The Roka ceremony, the boy's mother gives the bride gifts,
some clothes, and some piece of jewelry,
some dried fruits, and sweets, and all those things.
It's a small ritual before the wedding.
[in Hindi] Congratulations to you two.
[Radhika] Many things are coming into my mind.
I was nervous, and at the same time, I was, like, very excited also.
Like, it's the new beginning.
Everyone was noticing us. We're the center of attraction.
It was a good feeling. Yeah, we're just happy. Yeah.
[Akshay] I really like her. Even when I'm at work now, I'm distracted.
Like, 24/7, she's in my mind.
I'm thinking of what she's doing. I'm texting her.
If I'm in a meeting, I'm like, "Yeah." They're saying something,
but I am on my phone, looking down and texting.
It's like this childish-school kind of love, and it's very exciting.
[crowd cheers]
[Radhika] I always wanted a life partner,
and he's actually satisfying all the things.
Like, he's very decent, sweet.
He's very generous also. Sometimes I feel like he's caring also.
I'm super-duper blessed.
I just got what I wanted. Like, the family members,
like, mama, papa, bhaiya, bhabhi, and Akshay,
like, they're very sweet, very generous, and I just love that.
And I'm happy.
[in Hindi] Is it fitting? On any finger. Just see.
[in English] Akshay, for your information...
[in Hindi] ...the first ring is not put on by the husband.
[all laugh]
[Preeti speaks Hindi]
[Radhika's mother in Hindi] That's nice. It should be from the parents.
This is true.
[Akshay] Right now, reality has hit me, and it's going to happen,
and this is life-changing, and it's for the good,
and I feel very, very happy and excited about it.
-Akshay, I want to see. -Okay.
-Yeah. Very-- Awesome! -Big.
[Preeti] Lovely.
[Akshay] It's like going on a new adventure.
[Preeti] It's been nearly one-and-a-half year
that I was searching the perfect life partner for Akshay.
Now the search ends,
and his new life begins with Radhika.
And so I'm really very happy,
and I'm thankful to God.
All my tensions or all my--
My BP, I think, will be normal now. [laughs]
Mission Marriage is complete now.
[Preeti] Not yet. Just Mission Roka is complete,
and now the Mission Wedding starts.
In today's generation,
when they have a lot of choices for a good life partner,
the work of a matchmaker is so important.
I help guide the children to make the pair successful.
And the joy of bringing two families together,
this is why I am a matchmaker.
Helping others and giving happiness to others.
-We met when-- -...when we were 16.
-She was 16. I was 17. -Yeah.
I was nineteen and a half.
We met at the time of the wedding only. [laughs]
I did the biodata. I did the ad. I answered all the phone calls.
So he was looking for a girl,
and my father was looking for a boy.
It was like that.
You see the girl. You like her. You see her biodata.
It works for you. Say yes or no. That's it.
Looking at her? She was too-- She looked stunning.
[in Hindi] When I saw her...
it struck me for the first time that maybe she could be the one.
[in Hindi] Jokes apart, the truth is...
[in English] ...he's very good. He's so caring.
After all these years, I must say that whatever I saw that time has been true.
I think I'm very lucky. The best-- Luckiest person to have him.
[in Hindi] It's what we call made for each other.
The destiny, the chemistry, something worked.
[in Hindi] I have a son and a daughter. Both are married. Both have kids.
Though their marriages were arranged,
there's a lot of love and understanding between them.
Arranged marriage, actually, it's not so bad
because you try to work towards adjusting.
Somebody has to introduce you.
See, whether it's a arranged marriage or a love marriage,
somebody has to play Cupid.
-And it's amazing-- -It works.
It works, like. Yeah, it works.
[woman] We've been married 47 years.
[Sunita in Hindi] We have been married for 42 years.
Forty... 48 years ago.
We've been married four-and-a-half years.
Fifty-two years ago.
-Thirty-eight years. -We've been married for 30 years?
-Three years. -Fifty years now.
[in Hindi] How do I recall? Fifty years ago...
[laughs]
We've been married for less than 24 hours.
[both laugh]
[pop music playing]
[crowd chattering]
[man] Congratulations!
This is a 24-hour job.
Our work is never done.
Every day, I'm meeting new clients.
How late did you go last night?
-[woman] Four. -Four?
-Seriously? Four? Got home at four? Wow. -I mean p.m.
[all laugh]
So this-- We only have this breakfast place till 10:00.
-Only till 10:00, right, Dad? -Yes, only till 10:00.
Yeah. Make sure you're coming down.
[Richa] I'm the middle child.
I have an older sister and a younger brother,
and my sister's married.
She got married first, to an Indian guy.
They met on an Indian dating website.
[people cheering]
[Richa] And last night, my brother got married.
My married son, newlywed son. [laughs]
[Richa] As I'm the last to get married in the family,
now it's a rush for me.
Who are these people?
[Richa] The matchmakers.
She's the matchmaker, and that's her husband.
-Sima from Mumbai. -Oh! It's good-- Welcome.
I'm Sima Taparia from Mumbai.
Sima from Mumbai.
I'm from Bombay. Sima.
So you came from Mumbai, here?
-Yeah. -Oh, wow.
[Sima] I have come for Richa because I'm a matchmaker.
[man] Oh, wow. Okay.
Anybody you have, you contact me. Anyone you can suggest.
-Any girls, boys, anybody. -Okay.
[Sima] I have very good Punjabis also. Very good.
[man 2] One more to go now, huh? Richa, it's your turn. Sorry.
We don't waste any time, right? Twenty minutes into the next day, bam!
[Richa laughs]
Oh, my God.
[Richa] I want to please my parents. I'm super-close with my parents.
I want them to look at them and be like, "That's my son."
I want them to be Indian.
For me, just the way I grew up since I've seen arranged marriages,
I'm okay with working towards love.
-Smile. -[laughs]
Side, little side. You want to take the nose. Yes.
[laughs]
[rock music playing]
[Sima] Richa has beauty. She has smile.
She's tall, slim, trim, educated, from a good family.
I can give her, I think, 95 marks out of 100.
So she has the upper hand to choose the boys.
So what is your expectation for your life partner?
[Richa chuckles]
I've had a long time to think about it. It's been 30 years. [laughs]
Um, someone that immediately, first impression, just jumps right in
and is able to kinda communicate and have fun with my family.
Somebody who's got ambition,
has passion when it comes to their line of work.
That's just funny. Somebody that is extroverted.
I don't want a fly on the wall. Likes to go to the gym, likes to stay fit.
Somebody maybe that could cook with me. I do eat a lot of eggs.
Not too dark, you know, fair-skinned. Then someone with strong family values.
Just mold me, make it into a man, and then have the same exact family.
I think any caste is fine as long as their...
Matchmaking can be a tough job, but I'm trying my best. [laughs]
Make sure my husband is taller than me in my five-inch heels. [laughs]
[playful music playing]
[playful music continues]
[music ends]