Hiccups & Hookups too un-sanskari....

Sima Taparia. Pic/Shadab Khan

When it comes to marriages, Sima aunty knows best. Or so she would have you believe. Sima Taparia, a Mumbai-based matchmaker, became an overnight sensation last year after her reality show, Indian Matchmaking, dropped on Netflix. She found popularity and notoriety in equal parts, with her show being criticised for being regressive and reducing women to a checklist. Now, in an inventive move, Lionsgate Play has roped her in to lead a campaign for its first Indian original, Hiccups & Hookups, featuring Lara Dutta and Prateik Babbar.

A still from the series

The Kunal Kohli-directed series revolves around two siblings, essayed by Dutta and Babbar, navigating the world of love, dating and separation. When devising its promotional strategy, the creative team felt Taparia assessing the lead characters' love lives would make for an interesting watch. The first video of the series was shot at a Bandra five-star hotel last week. A source reveals, "The video sees Taparia trying to find perfect matches for Dutta's Vasudha, who is separated, and her commitment-phobic brother Akhil. She is shocked to learn that Vasudha is experimenting with her sexuality while the brother is trying his hand at open relationships. The conservative Sima aunty judges their life choices, while declaring, ‘Yeh family hai ya falooda.'"

Also Read: Hiccups & Hookups Trailer: Lara Dutta, Prateik Babbar's show looks breezy, fun