The First Season of 'Indian Matchmaking' Set Up A Ton Of Couples, But They Didn't Last

Netflix has had some super successful dating shows, like Love is Blind and Too Hot to Handle.

The streaming service's dating docuseries, Indian Matchmaking, however, takes a completely different turn away from testing out social experiments to creating lifelong relationships. Today, the show returns for season two with some new cast members—and a few familiar faces.

The show follows matchmaker Sima Taparia as she helps South Asian singles and their families navigate love with the help of face readers, astrologers, and life coaches.

Series creator Smriti Mundhra said that the show originally reached out to all of Taparia's 500 clients to see who would be interested in filming their experience, according to the Los Angeles Times. Twelve people initially agreed, but after six months of filming, only eight participants made the final cut. If you're a fan who's already binge-watched the whole first season, then you know pretty much every episode ends with a cliffhanger hinting at a participant finding their match in matrimony.

While the show will hook you quickly, it’s definitely faced some criticism. People have pointed out on social media that it seems to endorse gender stereotypes, colorism, and classism, with some of the show’s participants openly stating these beliefs. (Luckily, some participants, like Ankita Bansal, weren’t here for it.) The show also sheds light on just how intense matchmaking can be for certain families. Akshay Jakhete, for example, was kinda-totally bullied by his mom into choosing a bride, to the point where she blamed him for his brother not yet having a baby and for her rising blood pressure.

So did they actually find true love?

Before you dive into season 2, which just dropped, here's where all the Indian Matchmaking season 1 couples and singles stand now:

Nadia Jagessar

On the show, event planner Nadia, who is Guyanese and lives in New Jersey, initially hit it off with Shekar, a lawyer in Chicago. "I remember walking, and the rain falling, and just laughing because it was so much fun. Literally right out of a sappy Bollywood movie, my favorite kind!" she wrote on Instagram.

But they are no longer together. “Being off camera definitely changed the dynamic between myself and the matches that I had continued talking to, and obviously, the change was not positive,” she told The LA Times. “But it helped me learn more about myself and what I’m looking for in a future partner.”

Now, Nadia seems like she’s just out there, living her best life. And she's back for season 2 to continue her soulmate search.

Pradhyuman Maloo

Pradhyuman also returns for season two. During the show's first season, the Mumbai-based jewelry designer went on a date with Delhi-based model-actress Rushali, but it was ultimately not a match.

“We had different paths in life, and we respected that and moved ahead,” he told The Times. “I’m still looking for the right one.”

Pradhyuman also went on Instagram to clear a few things up about his experience on the show. For starters, he said that he and Rushali "did keep in touch, however long distance didn’t allow us to explore our individual sides and communicate organically." Plus, he said, "We were in different stages in our life so we decided to move on." The two are still friends.

Aparna Shewakramani

Aparna, a Houston-based attorney, went on many dates throughout the first season. Eventually, Jay from Atlanta seemed like the front-runner, but she ultimately didn't end up with anyone.

“They were all wonderful people,” she said. “They just weren’t the one for me.”

Now, she's back for season two—but she's not using Sima's services this time around.

Aparna became a fan-favorite on the show, though she recently told Vulture she wasn’t expecting that. "It’s been a roller coaster since," she said.

Aparna added that she still keeps in touch with a lot of people from the show. "I talk to Shekar every day, sometimes for hours every day, especially in these seven months, as I like to call it—or seven days, since the show premiered," she explained. "He’s been a big support, and we’ve remained really close friends. I text Jay and Dilip, from my dates, pretty much every day, too. I’ve become really close to Ankita in Delhi. I speak to Manisha and Nadia here on the Stateside. Rashi’s reached out a couple of times, from the Vyasar episode."

Vyasar Ganesan

Vyasar, an Austin-based college counselor, seemed to hit it off with Rashi, but he is currently single.

"It’s no one’s fault," he said. "Matchmaking really is tough. Both people I was matched with were truly wonderful, inspiring individuals who I’m proud to call friends. Ultimately, things didn’t work out, but I’m grateful for the memories I have from working with Sima."

He’s also shared a few tweets about his post-show experience. "Got recognized in public for the first time today, that was cool," he wrote.

He also semi-joked, "Dear Internet,Please stop being so thirsty. My students are getting scared."

Akshay Jakhete

Akshay, a Bombay-based graduate student, had the most serious and traditional experience on the show. He and Radhika from Udaipur are shown participating in a pre-engagement ceremony at the show's end, but they are no longer together. (FYI: they were never formally engaged or married.)

"A few days later, there were some things which we found out that did not go down well with us, and eventually I called it off," Akshay told The Times. "Trust is something [that] once broken cannot be regained in a matter of days—it takes a really long time. I’d rather wait and be with the correct person than be stuck with the wrong person. So I am single right now and still looking for the right one."

He returns for season two of the show.

Ankita Bansal

Ankita, a Delhi-based entrepreneur, also did not end up with a match. "I understand the many preconceived notions associated with arranged marriages—and believe me, before going on 'Indian Matchmaking,' I had them too," she told The Times. "At the end of the day, it all comes down to a connection. If it’s there, you can’t deny it and it won’t matter how you two were introduced."

Ankita has been posting about the show on Instagram, including how stoked she was to become a meme. "I'm finally a Meme. Can someone please pass a tissue? *Tears of Joy*," she wrote.

You Might Also Like

• PSA: Our Carb-Loving Keto Cookbook Is 32% Off for a Few More Hours

• This Dynamic Warm-Up Will Help You Prep For Your Best Workout Yet

• These Before-and-After Photos Show How Much Your Body Can Change From Drinking Less Alcohol