


The Netflix reality show that matches Indian singles returns for a third season—this time expanding its reach to London to cover another sector of the South Asian diaspora.
Opening Shot: Plane wheels touch down in London, accompanied by a smattering of iconic scenes in the UK city. Sima Aunty is in the back of a cab on her way to her newest London-based client.
The Gist: Following Mumbai’s premier matchmaker Sima Taparia (affectionately referred to as Sima Aunty by her younger clients), Indian Matchmaking follows Sima Aunty as she meets new clients to learn about what they want in a partner and matches them with others in her database based on biodatas. The first episode of Season 3 introduces Londoner Priya, a mid-30s divorcee looking for a second chance at love; Delhi-based Rushali, a model and actress who previously went on a date with Pradhyuman in Season 1; and Bobby, a happy-go-lucky London math teacher who is often friendzoned. The third season also checks in on the second season client Viral and her match Aashay as they take their relationship to the next level.
What Shows Will It Remind You Of? Dating reality shows have exploded over the past few years, especially at Netflix. If you want to experience more first date awkwardness, you can check out another of the streamer’s shows, Dating Around.

Our Take: When Indian Matchmaking first aired, I was ecstatic about an ancient Indian tradition, arranged marriage, finding its place in modern Indian and the diaspora culture. It had its flaws, including its generally straightforward approach to the topic that largely left out non-Hindu faiths, darker-skinned individuals, those belonging to lower and middle class, the LGBTQIA+ community and more—and I was upset that the series didn’t course correct in the second season. Creator Smriti Mundhra has commented on these shortcomings, stating that the show has to operate within the lines of Sima Aunty’s client book, and her business focuses on affluent heterosexual Hindu matrimony.
While I still think there is room to expand the series by introducing other matchmakers that can speak to less traditional values of the modern Indian youth, the producers of Indian Matchmaking don’t seem interested in moving away from Taparia’s client list, despite her having a near 0% success rate for couples on the show. In Season 3, she’s expanding some of her range by taking on divorcees and non-Hindus.
In episode one we meet three new characters: Priya, a Londoner in her mid-30s whose first and only relationship ended in a recent divorce, is confident and self-assured but also open to the process (even if I don’t agree with her particular need for a top-knotted-man); Bobby, a fellow UK resident, is equally charming and his plight to be lifted out of the friend zone is a relatable one; and Rushali, a familiar face, is a romantic who wants to find someone on her level. Moving the focus away from America (though there are future U.S.-based clients in the rest of the season) is a welcome change, as it highlights both the differences and similarities in different diasporas, and showcases how much a person’s upbringing and environment can shape an identity.
One of my biggest complaints from Season 2 was that we spent too much time with established faces from Season 1, especially ones who weren’t employing Sima Aunty’s services anymore. It felt idiosyncratic to a show called Indian Matchmaking to follow characters that weren’t committed to the process. Season 3 still checks in with a previous client, Viral, but I’m happy to spend the bulk of the time with new faces and following new journeys.
If you watch Indian Matchmaking as a treatise on modern dating in the Indian community, it simply won’t show you the full picture. Taparia’s rigid focus both in clients and in some of her ideas (later in the season she reveals that she thinks unmarried people in their 30s have failed; her 60% compromise rule stays front and center) brings the show to a boiling point between old traditions and new preferences, and she often thinks she’s unequivocally right. With Sima Aunty in the driver’s seat, the show will continue to iterate the same types of stories—I’m happy to keep pressing play, as long as I keep my expectations in check.
Sex and Skin: This is not that kind of reality show.
Parting Shot: Viral and Aashay sit on a bench in Central Park and Aashay asks a huge question.
Sleeper Star: Rushali has a refreshing outlook on the realities of dating and has reasonable asks for her future partner—she explicitly states that she doesn’t want anyone with 6-pack abs and desires balance in her relationship.
Most Pilot-y Line: “She doesn’t have to marry a poet. She can always read a book,” Sima Aunty says, reiterating her somewhat tired ethos about compromising (and settling) in a relationship.
Our Call: STREAM IT. While the third season doesn’t elevate the series’ central premise, it’s still an entertaining watch.
Radhika Menon (@menonrad) is a TV-obsessed writer based in Los Angeles. Her work has appeared on Vulture, Teen Vogue, Paste Magazine, and more. At any given moment, she can ruminate at length over Friday Night Lights, the University of Michigan, and the perfect slice of pizza. You may call her Rad.