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Vishal Parvani and Richa Sadana from Family Karma have more than one hurdle to get over before they can finally get married. The couple’s lengthy engagement has more than one auntie talking as Parvani hopes to eventually win Sadana’s mother’s approval.

Vishal Parvani, Richa Sadana, Reshma Parvani, Kishor Parvani
Vishal Parvani, Richa Sadana, Reshma Parvani, Kishor Parvani | Tommy Garcia/Bravo

But the couple also has a long-distance romance. Sadana, an attorney mainly lives in Memphis, Tennesse, whereas Parvani resides in Miami, Florida. But Parvani and Sadana have made the union work for them. Both take turns traveling between Miami and Memphis while they navigate the best way to get Sadana’s mom, Lopa to warm up to her future son in law.

Parvani and Sadana dished with Showbiz Cheat Sheet about where they currently are with their engagement. Plus, do they have a plan where they’ll ultimately live once they get married?

Parent approval is everything

Parvani says the relationship is doomed if his Sadana’s mother won’t give the union her blessing. “[Getting her approval is] extremely serious,” Parvani told Showbiz Cheat Sheet.

“If Richa’s mom won’t accept me, there will be no wedding,” he insisted. “However, in general I believe it becomes an issue in families where we seek and respect the approval of our elders. My brother married a non-Indian and they did face some resistance initially. A large majority of Indian-Americans couples may break up if their parents are not accepting of the union as our families are a big part of who we are.”

Why is Sadana’s mother having a hard time accepting Parvani? “Everyone’s personal experiences shape and influence their views in life,” he reflected. “Lopa aunty will never think any guy is good enough for her daughter. I could be a multi-millionaire and she would say, ‘Well, he’s not a multi-billionaire.'”  

But once they get married … then what?

Showbiz Cheat Sheet may have asked Parvani and Sadana the million-dollar question during the Family Karma red carpet event. Where will they finally settle down? “We should probably have that talk,” Parvani joked. “No, we’ve spoken about it. She’s asked me if I’d move to Memphis. But I told her my job is in Miami. And her job is in Memphis. My ideal scenario is we keep it as is. I make a lot more trips to Memphis.”

The couple definitely still commutes back and forth to see each other. “She is in Memphis probably even longer now than before,” Parvani said. Sadana estimates, “Like 75% to 80% of the month I’m in Memphis.” Parvani says they get to see each other about one week out of the month.

Distance isn’t the only factor testing Parvani and Sadana’s relationship. “So our relationship’s taking a hit from the show,” Sadana says as she’s seen social media criticism starting to pile up. This is compounded by the pressure they receive from family too. “We’ve been together for eight years. And engaged for three. And we’re not married. So it’s going to be a true test of being together.”

Family Karma airs Sunday night at 9 p.m. / 8 p.m. Central on Bravo.

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