Family Karma, Bravo’s docuseries focused on an all Indian-American group of friends and their extended family in Miami, Florida, has been heating up Wednesday nights after debuting on the network in early 2020, right as the pandemic hit. Now back for Season 2, the drama between this tight-knit group of longtime family friends is hotter than ever, with so much time having passed between production on the first and second seasons.
On Season 2 of Family Karma, Bravo cameras have followed Vishal Parvani as he navigates his long-distance (and slightly troubled) relationship with fiancé Richa Sadana—and there has been no shortage of drama along the way. Now that we’re halfway through the season, we thought it was a great time to check in with Vishal to hear about what it has been like opening up about his relationship on camera, where he stands with Season 1 frenemy Anisha Ramakrishna, his short feud with Dillon Patel, and what viewers can expect from the rest of the season.
It’s so great to be able to talk about Season 2 of Family Karma. So much has happened since Bravo viewers were introduced to your group of friends last year. How are you, and how has life been during the pandemic?
VISHAL PARVANI: 2020 was a difficult year to navigate for most, and I was no exception to this. From getting COVID, to being quarantined apart from my fiancé, it was a big adjustment that took a toll on both my physical and mental health.
Before we jump into all of the drama, I wanted to ask about your relationship with Anisha. Both of you really stood out as centre points within the group but had trouble seeing eye-to-eye last season. What is your relationship like now?
VISHAL: I think Anisha and I would both agree that our relationship is like the weather in Miami. Sunshine and butterflies one minute, followed by a quick, torrential downpour. But at the end of the day we are family and have our ups and downs.
Last season, we were introduced to your longtime girlfriend Richa and during Season 2, we’ve been able to see more of your relationship—although it hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing. What has it been like being so personal and open about your relationship on the show?
VISHAL: Opening up about my relationship has been therapeutic in a way. Of course it has not been easy, as it forces us to deal with the good and the bad on camera—along with everyone else having a say in our relationship. I think at the end of the day, it shows that there is no such thing as a perfect relationship, that even though we have been in a relationship for 9 years, it still entails a lot of hard work. And people relate to that.
One thing that seems to be standing in the way of you and Richa taking that next step is her mother, Lopa. If Lopa had been more approving of you, do you think you and Richa would already be married?
VISHAL: No, I think it would be easy to use Lopa aunty as a scapegoat. If Lopa aunty was the only obstacle in our way, we would have already been married. We have other issues we are also dealing with, like long distance, communication, and our priorities.
A lot of your story with Richa has focused on the drama, but it was great hearing her describe you as her best friend and someone that she has the most fun with. Is there anything you would like Bravo fans to know about your relationship?
VISHAL: You see a specific time in our life on camera. We have 9 years of history, and I really believe when we were good, we were great. We loved going on adventure dates, travelling, hiking, jumping off planes; you name it, we have done it. At the end of the day, she is still my best friend, and there is nothing we would not do for each other.
According to various Instagram sleuths, there are some rumours that you and Richa are already married, or that we may see your relationship take the next step later this season. What is your response to the rumours?
VISHAL: Those rumors were entertaining to say the least, because it was news to me. I had various friends and family message me posts saying I was married and did not invite them to the wedding. If I do get married, trust me, everyone would know. It would be a big fat Indian wedding.
At the beginning of the season, we were introduced to Shaan Patel’s brother Dillon, who had some not-so-nice things to say about you on social media while Season 1 was airing. But, a few weeks ago, you both shared a photo that seems to imply you are on good terms with each other once again. Where does your relationship stand currently, and do you have any regrets about how you handled the situation?
VISHAL: Dillon and I are back to how we were. We are good. I do wish I used a better choice of words when I confronted him as I did not know it would trigger him. I was coming from a place of hurt—and wanted to scare him straight—and did go a bit too far.
One thing that really sets Family Karma a part from other Bravo shows is the focus on family. For some, filming a reality show with their family would be a dream job. Overall, what has the experience been like?
VISHAL: Filming with family is the most stressful job. Indian families for the most part are very private, we want to keep our skeletons to ourselves. On day one of Season 1, the pandora’s box was opened. It has been filled with ups and downs but at the end of the day, it has helped us grow. We do not sweat the small stuff as much as we did before.
It has been so great to see Indian representation on Bravo. Now that you’re in your second season, what has the response been from the community in Miami?
VISHAL: The response has been overwhelmingly positive. People are loving the show, different cultures, all relating to certain aspects. It has been encouraging that we have broken certain stigmas through representation.
Representation in front of the camera is important but so is representation behind the camera. During Monica Vaswani’s party at the beach, it was great to see her offer dessert to the crew and break the fourth wall. What is the atmosphere like filming the show, and how close are all of you with the crew?
VISHAL: One of the foundations of our culture is being hospitable. Everyone in our home is family and we treat them all with that respect. The atmosphere on and off camera with the crew is filled with such positive vibes and so much love.
What has been the biggest difference between filming Season 1 and filming Season 2?
VISHAL: The biggest difference is with the parents. I think they have become more comfortable opening up and in turn we feel better and are sharing every aspect of our lives.
Family Karma airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on Bravo. To learn more about Vishal Parvani and Season 2 of Family Karma, be sure to visit Bravotv.com and check out our previous interviews with Amrit Kapai and Anisha Ramakrishna.
