Star Turn
After stealing the show on “Indian Matchmaking,” Aparna Shewakramani is shaking off the haters and mulling her next role.
By Jennifer Latson
The most polarizing character on Netflix’s hit reality show “Indian Matchmaking,” Houston lawyer Aparna Shewakramani ’07 has inspired legions of admirers — and legions more who love to hate her. On the show, which follows professional matchmaker Sima Taparia as she works to find the perfect partner for her Indian and Indian American clients, Shewakramani is cast as the villain — too stubborn and picky to easily pair. And while there’s more to her in real life, of course, Shewakramani doesn’t mind if you see her as the bad guy. Her attitude is: When life gives you mean memes, make T-shirts out of them. (You can buy hers at aparnastyle.com.) We caught up with Shewakramani recently to find out how TV stardom has changed her life.
Q. How did you and your family handle the publicity that came from the show?
A. We decided by day one or two that we were just going to soak in all the positive and let go of the rest. You can pick and choose what you want to hear in the world; you can seek out the negativity or just enjoy all the goodness. I’ve always said that, and I say that in the show. They say, “What if a guy rejects you?” I say, “That’s fine. If I’m not for you, that’s OK. You don’t have to like me. I like me.” To hear from people who’ve never met me and never will meet me, saying “I don’t like her” or “I do like her” — either way it’s kind of strange. They care about this a lot. That’s not something I had really planned for.
Q. It seemed like you had as many defenders as detractors on social media. How did that feel?
A. It’s been great to see that some people have really identified with this portrayal and been inspired by it. Obviously I know I’m a lot more nuanced than the character they portrayed me as, but a lot of women are seeing that character as someone who is unapologetically herself, stands up for what she wants, and has the courage to wait for the right partner and not just settle because she’s reached the age in society where she’s told she has to settle.
They say, “What if a guy rejects you?” I say, “That’s fine. If I’m not for you, that’s OK. You don’t have to like me. I like me.”
Q. What’s next for you?
A. I have a luxury travel business where we curate tours for young professionals in their 30s and 40s. It’s called My Golden Balloon, and we handle all the arrangements, so you can just sit back and relax and go on my dream vacation, led by me. We had trips planned throughout 2020, but obviously they all got canceled. It turned out not to be a great time to start a travel business, but we’re pivoting. I’m also working on a book. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at “Indian Matchmaking,” but it’s also about my life and the lessons I’ve learned — Aparna’s rules for living.
Q. What if Netflix asked you to do a spinoff reality show? Would you do it?
A. Sure. I’m always open to ideas. I could do a travel show. Or someone suggested that maybe next time I could be the matchmaker. I think I’d do a pretty good job.