Watching Mumbai-based matchmaker Sima Taparia do her thing throughout Indian Matchmaking can often feel like watching a world-class chess player at work. Using a client’s bio data and cross-referencing their list of priorities, Sima has built a meticulous strategy to find worthy, lifelong matches for each of the Indian and Indian American singles who enlist her help. And while it’s undoubtedly a challenging task, we learn that she doesn’t always shoulder it on her own — she often lets the universe weigh in.

On both seasons of the series, Sima consults the expertise of fellow Mumbaikar, astrologer and face reader Janardhan Dhurve to help figure out if sparks are flying celestially for her potential matches. This is an especially important part of the process for her, as she makes sure to point out in Season 1. “Ultimately, my efforts are meaningless if the stars are not aligned,” she says.

Face reading, also known as physiognomy, is the practice of assessing facial features to evaluate personality, future fortune and (in the case of Indian Matchmaking) marriageability. The practice has been used by multiple cultures since ancient times, from India to Greece. By utilizing face reading, like Dhurve does for Sima’s clients, an astrologer is able to best understand the dominating planets in their astrological charts as well.

Season 2 shows Dhurve analyzing the faces of a new lot of hopeful singles, while he also doubles down on Aparna’s stubbornness in her quest toward finding a partner. So how exactly does face reading help you find your soulmate? And more importantly, what’s the deal with the curse on Akshay’s relationships? Tudum caught up with Dhurve to get his read.

What exactly is face reading? What can you learn about a person from reading their face?
Face reading is an ancient way of reading a person’s past, present and future based on their facial features. It is a branch of Brahmastra, the study of the universe created by Lord Brahma, the creator.

A person’s takdeer, their destiny, can be predicted through face reading, from where they were born to their family history to any health issues. Astrology uses [janam] kundli, a chart that uses your time of birth to predict the future. The predictions can go wrong without exact timings, but face reading is 100% accurate.

What is it like working with Sima in her matchmaking process? How long has this partnership been ongoing?
Sima is my disciple; I have known her and family for 25 to 30 years. She consults me often, and my experience of working with her has been shubh — happy — and content. My predictions for her have always turned out to be true, so she believes in them even more.

When reading for Sima’s client Akshay, you found that there were some supernatural forces that were blocking him from marriage. Can you tell us more about this “curse” on Akshay?
Some people have a hex for failed marriages. You can get rid of these curses; there’s a specific vidhi, a specific process, of yagya and puja to lift the hex. This ensures married life is happy and content.

How is face reading connected to astrology and the stars?
Face reading is connected to astrology closely. Both are used to predict the future; but while astrology uses planetary positions to determine a person’s life, face reading uses their facial features.

How can face reading help you find a life partner?
By looking at photos, I can predict if two people will be compatible and have a successful, happy life, or if there will be issues that arise. This helps them make a more informed decision about marriage.

What’s one of the most common or obvious things you can learn about someone based on their face?
I can tell if something is weighing on the person’s mind, how tense they are, about their personality and ancestors. People seek answers for their problems in property, marriage, children, careers, love life and health. I tell them exactly what I can see on their faces — good, bad or ugly. I don’t mince words to keep them happy.

This interview was edited for clarity.

Indian Matchmaking Season 2 TrailerEveryone’s favorite matchmaker Sima Taparia is back.