Valentine's Day: Mumbai's beloved mixed-race couples reveal how it all began

lsquoWe manufacture romancersquoDar Gai and Dheer MomayaCofounders of Jugaad Motion PicturesSome love stories begin with a meetcute Theirs began with a milongaldquoA very funny story actuallyrdquo says filmmaker Dheer Momaya ldquoDar is an incredible Argentinian tango dancer My uncle claims to be a good one as well although wersquore not that surerdquo he jests What is certain is that the uncle and Dar Gai mdash Ukrainian filmmaker theatre director and now cofounder of Jugaad Motion Pictures mdash met at a milonga an Argentinian tango dance party got talking and somewhere between steps and conversation decided that Dar should meet his nephewAt the time both Dar and Dheer were finding their footing in cinema ldquoShe was already working in film teaching screenwriting at Whistling Woodsrdquo Dheer recalls ldquoI was assisting then We were both in the early days of our careersrdquo Their first meeting was professional almost deceptively so ldquoShe narrated some ideas and I was completely blown awayrdquo he says ldquoI remember telling a friend I was working with then lsquoI think some day I will marry this girlrsquordquoDar Gai and Dheer Momaya also work together at their production house Jugaad Motion PicturesDar laughs when she hears his version ldquoThatrsquos Dheerrsquos side of the storyrdquo she says Hers begins with tango as a hobby and a friendship with his uncle that slowly turned conspiratorial ldquoHe said lsquoMy nephew is very smart and hersquos also into filmmaking You should meet himrsquo And then everything startedrdquoOnly later did she learn the full truth ldquoAfter we got married he the uncle told me it was actually his planrdquo she laughs ldquoIt was almost like an arranged marriage He just really liked me and wanted me in his familyrdquoIf their meeting feels cinematic so does Darrsquos journey to India She first came to teach philosophy and direct theatre plays ldquoI met Anand Mahindra during that time and he really liked my playsrdquo she says ldquoHe told me I should explore Mumbai Because of him I came here This is how I got to know Indian films where I started teaching and then I directed my first feature filmrdquo It was during that first film that she and Dheer began dating ldquoDuring my second feature film we decided wersquod get marriedrdquoAsk them about cultural differences and for Dar they were never as stark as people imagine ldquoI never felt like a foreigner hererdquo she says ldquoIndian and Ukrainian cultures are very similar We both have deep histories and most importantly a love for familyrdquo Having grown up in a joint family it was almost natural to blend into Dheerrsquos familyldquoIndia is obsessed with art and culture Ukraine is obsessed with art and culture It felt like an expansion to merdquoAnd as for Dheer being a SoBo boy meeting with Dar gave him a new lens to view the city ldquoDar was teaching at Whistling Woods so suddenly I was hanging out in MaKaBo a lotrdquo he jokes ldquoIt gave me a new way to look at the city Whether yoursquore coming from Ukraine or Chandigarh everyone comes to Mumbai dreaming of a flat with a beautiful viewrdquo he says ldquoAnd then you open the curtains and see another building Itrsquos not just adapting to the city but making the city adapt to yourdquoOne place where culture did quietly shift was gifting ldquoUkrainians are incredible at giftingrdquo Dheer says ldquoTherersquos so much thought behind it In India itrsquos often lsquoGive something expensive and itrsquos finersquo Irsquove had to learn the art of giftingrdquo Dar remembers those early misunderstandings vividly ldquoI would bring gifts for him and his entire family and he wouldnrsquotrdquo she says ldquoIrsquod be so angry Irsquod be like lsquoDo you not love mersquordquoCut to 12 years later ldquoMy birthday became a fiveday celebrationrdquo she says ldquoIt was like a Dar mela There was a magician a custom necklace someone predicting my future I looked at him and thought wow thatrsquos an incredible adaptation to Ukrainian culturerdquoThey work together live together and now parent their child together which means boundaries blur easily ldquoWersquore hardly ever not togetherrdquo Dar says ldquoEven when wersquore in the same room writing or on calls I still miss himrdquo Their friction is charmingly mundane ldquoAt the end of the day he wants to wind down and read I want to talk mdash all the timerdquoWhat theyrsquove learned from each other runs deeper ldquoShe has this spontaneity of creativityrdquo Dheer says ldquoThe ability to find magic where others see a dead endrdquo Dar in turn has learned patience ldquoHe never rushes to speak He absorbs people And hersquos taught me to seize the day not just chase big dreams but enjoy todayrdquoThe best dates for them happen organically ldquoWe always fight on Valentinersquos Dayrdquo Dar says ldquoIt feels forced Roses restaurants mdash we feel awkwardrdquo Dheer laughs ldquoIrsquom romantic every day of my liferdquo Their irony is delicious they create Valentinersquos campaigns for a living ldquoWe manufacture romancerdquo she says ldquoSo when the world expects us to be romantic wersquore not But in our everyday life we arerdquoFor them the perfect date is simple ldquoBeing together reading discussing our next filmrdquo Dar says Dheer adds ldquoWe order Smoking Joersquos pizza with extra garlic and chilli have a beer wine or tequila and watch a film or read But what we love most is swimming in the sea We try to spend four or five weeks a year by the ocean especially at our farmhouse in AlibaugrdquolsquoNothing has changed except my last namersquoKaran and Michaela TalwarMarried since 10 years with two childrenAt 730 am on January 1 2012 while most people were nursing hangovers or making lofty New Year resolutions Karan Talwar opened his door let a stranger into his house pointed vaguely at a couch and went straight back to bed That stranger was Michaela now lovingly called ldquoMikardquo cofounder partnerinlifeandwork and the only German Karan insists he could ever build a business with That sleepy absurd moment was their beginning ldquoThatrsquos how we met for the first timerdquo Karan saysMichaela remembers it as the start of an oldschool romance that unfolded not over dating apps but through letters time zones and patience Falling in love was one thing Staying in love across cultures was another entirelyGermanorigin Michaela was living in Sweden back then For the first year their relationship existed almost entirely on paper ldquoOddly it was a very traditional courtship We wrote lettersrdquo she laughs It was also the year she got her first smartphone a development she credits only halfjokingly for the survival of their relationship Letters turned into messages messages into longdistance conversations until Karan braved brutal Christmas weather to visit her But it was a gesture that made her pause and think this might be something real ldquoThe moment where I thought okay maybe this could evolve into a relationship beyond writing letters was when he sent me flowers one day while I was at workrdquoMichaela moved to India in 2014 and with that came daily negotiations mdash some big some small Food for instance became an early battleground Karan who grew up in Delhi cannot wrap his head around Michaelarsquos comfort with food cooling down ldquoI love hot food and Mika hates hot foodrdquo he says still baffled Michaela counters calmly steaks and pasta arenrsquot meant to stay hot forever ldquoIn India everything is hot all the timerdquo she notes half amused half resignedThen therersquos the outdoors Germans Karan has observed are deeply committed to hiking mdash long uphill walks powered by little more than bread and water ldquoWhy are you doing this to yourselfrdquo he asks Michaela points out that in Germany nature is always close ldquoYou can drive to a hike in like 20 minutesrdquo For Karan who admits he simply isnrsquot a hiking person this difference required acceptance rather than understandingToday the two are married raising children and running an alt performance space called Harkat Studios together It is a setup that sounds romantic in theory and deeply complicated in practice ldquoThe con obviously is that you are together all the timerdquo Karan says Work emotions spill into personal life personal frustrations wander back into the office ldquoBut if yoursquore comfortable with that then it is what it isWhat can you dordquoTheir GermanIndian dynamic plays out sharply at work Karan jokes that Michaela is the only German he could ever work with Germans he says are methodical processoriented allergic to improvisationTherersquos no room for jugaad no skipping steps ldquoIrsquove worked with German clients and they complainrdquo Karan says ldquoA lotrdquo Michaela adds with a laugh ldquoThere is a saying among Germans that if we donrsquot complain thatrsquos enough praiserdquoWhen she first came to India Michaela admits that living a life where everything mdash work love social life mdash is interwoven initially felt disorienting But she now sees it as freedom ldquoIn India everything is fluidrdquo she says ldquoIt is more difficult to stay oriented but it allows you endless possibilitiesrdquoIf therersquos one place where cultural difference didnrsquot matter when they moved in together it was family Michaela says nothing truly changed after marriage She knew Karanrsquos family felt welcomed and was included in gatherings as if she had always belonged ldquoNothing has changed except my last namerdquo she laughesSomewhere between hot food and cold bread letters and WhatsApp Karan and Michaela have built something rare A relationship that thrives not despite its differences but because of them Itrsquos messy intertwined and deeply affectionate Much like love itselflsquoGet married every 12 yearsrsquoPaula McGlynn and Sarang Sathaye Cofounders of Marathi YouTube channel Bharatiya Digital Party BhaDiPaSarang Sathaye Anusha Nandakumar and Paula McGlynn began their journey with BhaDipa back in 2016 when the three were tired of the toxic environment on sets and bad worklife balance They felt the need to have something of their own But these founders had something more to their origin story Other than the camaraderie between the three Paula and Sarang were and still are very much in loveSarang Sathaye and Paula McGlynn who got married only last year under their favourite tree in the latterrsquos hometownldquoWe met in 2012 in Toronto at the Toronto International Film Festival Paula is from Vancouver Canadardquo says the softspoken Sarang who originally hails from Pune but moved to Mumbai a few years ago A year later Paula was travelling there to meet some of her friends and had worked on the sound for a short film being shown at the festival Paula chimes in with a sweet voice ldquoI had to learn Marathi for a role and I also like to learn new cultures But itrsquos such a big part of Sarang that it felt like an insight into himrdquo she says ldquoI think even though we come from quite different cultures and habits a big part of our personality is that we are creative so it helpsrdquo she adds ldquoWell I frozerdquo he adds ldquoI was from Pune I knew English but hardly spoke it I didnrsquot know how to speak to this Canadian girlrdquo he says his voice filling with laughter as he recalls the first meeting ldquoThen she was on my turfrdquo he addsJokes aside Paula admits that the reason she was drawn to Sarang was because while the teasing continued he never made her feel uncomfortable ldquoSarang was actually one of the only guys on the set who was not obsessed with me being a foreigner and wanting to take me out on dates So I felt comfortable talking to him and wanted to open up to himrdquo she says ldquoAs a result the trust was established and eventually feelings happenedrdquo she addsThe couple finally tied the knot last year in a nondenominational ceremony in Vancouver in a place called Deep Cove that Sarang fell in love with The couple also used it as an incentive to get Sarangrsquos mother who had had an accident to work on her recovery so she could fly for the ceremony ldquoWe thought this could be a good sort of inspiration for her to get up and off the bedrdquo he says Working together and living together does get intense admits Sarang ldquoBut when it comes to functioning at workplaces we have two completely different ways of doing it Paula is all prep knowing everything having clarity processoriented and I am very instinctiverdquo says Sarang which seems to be the energy the couple gives out Paula is measured in the way she speaks while Sarang goes with the flow but doesnrsquot rush eitherThe vibes are a match Itrsquos not like there arenrsquot creative clashes at all though ldquoThere are times when we get into fights and they are nasty fights but they get resolved the same dayrdquo he says ldquoYes I agree I think Sarang said it wellrdquo adds Paula Their advice for those actively working on bettering their married life is to ldquoget married every 12 yearsrdquo jokes Paula ldquoNo but on a serious note what we have tried to do is get away for each otherrsquos birthdays even if itrsquos for two days to keep the romance aliverdquo says SarangAnd what changed after marrying an Indian ldquoThe only thing that has changed is that we can now go to the immigration counter at the airport togetherrdquo Paula says ldquoI hope it will make finding a house to rent easier in the future as well However it has only been a few months so the only real difference is that I frequently get asked about how it is to be married Irsquom glad there hasnrsquot been any change The goal behind getting married wasnrsquot to prove our commitment mdash that we were confident about It was mainly to make life a little easierrdquoWe hope this couple stays curious and loving and yes gets married every 12 yearslsquoFood first talk laterrsquoSeefah Ketchaiyo and Karan Bane Chefs and CoOwners Seeran HospitalityFifteen years ago sparks flew in the kitchens of a popular fivestar hotel in Worli Seefah Ketchaiyo originally from Bangkok had moved to Mumbai in 2011 to work at the hotelrsquos Asian kitchen It was a big leap from home and the early days were not easy A new city a new pace a new food culture all demanded adjustmentldquoSomewhere between long workdays and shared meals it stopped feeling like just work and started feeling like usrdquo says Seefah Their first real conversation Karan remembers was ldquoabout food work and life Nothing fancy just the kind of talk that made us think okay this person gets merdquoFor the first three years convincing Karanrsquos parents took patience ldquoAfter my parents saw how well we worked together they finally understood that this relationship was good for usrdquo he explainsFor Seefah with marriage ldquofood got spicier family got bigger and life got louder but in the best way It taught me patience humour and how to adjust without losing myselfrdquo says Seefah for whom food has always been more than work It is comfort tradition and memory Karan supported her in the kitchen and he cooks for her at home too knowing exactly what she likes and what cheers her up on hard daysFrom Seefah learning to love butter chicken and mastering doodhchai for Karan to him wooing her with his skills in Thai and Japanese cuisine food has remained their love language Even today the small ritual that feels most special is asking ldquoDid you eatrdquo every single dayMarriage didnrsquot blur work it actually made roles clearer ldquoAt work we stay professional direct and focused on the food At home we switch off and talk like partners not chefs When things feel heavy they take short trips together The break helps them reset and reconnect Karanrsquos calm honest and steady nature she says has been the cornerstone of their relationship especially when they are building both a life and a business togetherIn their love life Seefah tells us how easy it is for them to laugh after a chaotic service ldquoBecause teamwork is better than ego And wersquore better on the same siderdquo says Karan From the carefree days of working in restaurant kitchens to the added pressures of running a business being together has changed how they see the future ldquoNow itrsquos not just lsquomersquo plans Itrsquos lsquowersquo plansrdquo he smilesSeefah adds ldquoWe listen more We argue less most days We eat better foodrdquo On difficult days they support each other with a simple rule ldquoFood first Talk later Sometimes silence is enoughrdquo she saysTogether they are excited to build good food a strong team and a life that still feels fun What should never change says Karan ldquois respect laughter and being able to be ourselves even on messy daysrdquo What is brave we ask ldquoChoosing each other knowing life would stay busyrdquo Seefah signs offlsquoWe forgive each other very quicklyrsquoPratima lsquoMickeersquo Tuljapurkar and Manuel Olveira Founders La Loca MariaFrom their very first meeting at the Elbo Room on March 21 2014 Pratima ldquoMickeerdquo Tuljapurkar had a gut feeling about Chef Manuel Olveira who had been living in Mumbai since 2012 and working with Michelinstarred chef Sergi Arola at Arola in Juhu ldquoI just knew Manuel took a little longer mdash he is five years younger after all mdash so I waited for him to catch uprdquo she smilesldquoFor me it was a trip to Goardquo says Manuel ldquoAway from work and routine it suddenly felt obvious Being with her was easy and fun chaotic and thatrsquos when I knew it wasnrsquot just a phaserdquoThey married in 2016 celebrating in both Mumbai and Toledo Spain blending cultures as seamlessly as the cuisines they would later champion together ldquoMarrying an Indian introduced me to a completely different way of living where you donrsquot wait for things to be perfect you just make them work That whole jugaad mindset changed me Therersquos always a solution always a workaround always a way forwardrdquo says ManuelldquoI think there comes a point where you are of a certain age with a person you love the concept of marriage is something you actually think of chalo should we I think for both of us it was basically us asking lsquoShould we get carried away or notrsquo There were a lot of practical things on the table like the age difference his being Spanish my being Indian our different lives and worlds It felt grownup honest genuinerdquo says PratimaAfter the wedding they moved first to Abu Dhabi where Manuel was Chef de Cuisine at The St Regis then to the RitzCarlton in Dubai before finally opening La Loca Maria in 2019 named in homage to his mother It was Pratima who encouraged him to finally act on a longheld dream of opening a restaurant rooted in his heritage and creative voiceldquoNo matter whatrsquos happening she shows up takes charge and keeps things moving Life here taught me flexibility Plans change systems fail things donrsquot arrive on time and yet somehow everything still comes togetherrdquo says ManuelldquoLove felt brave when we decided not to have kids It was a big honest choice one that required clarity and complete trust in each otherrdquo she admitsldquoWorking together means we donrsquot always agree but we always come back to each other And thatrsquos the easy partrdquo he saysWhat makes them choose each other again and again is driving each other crazy sometimes literally With the kind of lives they lead love has become practical in the best ways respect patience and reliability matter more than grand gesturesldquoWe donrsquot pretend we have it all figured out we figure it out togetherrdquo says ManuelOn holding space for each other during difficult days Pratima says itrsquos about being the calm one mdash lsquothis too shall passrsquo vibesldquoOur shared need for order Itrsquos a small thing but it makes home feel peacefulrdquo he addsA quiet unglamorous moment that sums up their relationship best ldquoLate nights after service tired but content sharing food talking about the day planning tomorrow Nothing flashy Just real life sharedrdquo she saysMarrying lsquoMickeersquo has softened Manuel ldquoTherersquos an openness to emotion care worry celebration thatrsquos very real Love here isnrsquot quiet or distant it shows up constantly in checkins food advice concernrdquo he addsAnd what they hope never changes ldquoHow quickly we say sorry forgive each other and move onrdquo says ManuelStory by Akshita Maheshwari Arpika Bhosale Tanisha Banerjee and Nasrin Modak Siddiqi

Valentine's Day: Mumbai's beloved mixed-race couples reveal how it all began

‘We manufacture romance’
Dar Gai and Dheer Momaya
Co-founders of Jugaad Motion Pictures

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Latest Photos

Latest Videos

Latest Web Stories

Mid-Day Fast

Home / Sunday-mid-day / / Article / Valentine's Day: Mumbai's beloved mixed-race couples reveal how it all began

Valentine's Day: Mumbai's beloved mixed-race couples reveal how it all began

‘We manufacture romance’Dar Gai and Dheer MomayaCo-founders of Jugaad Motion Pictures

Trending Stories

Latest Photos

Latest Videos

Latest Web Stories

Mid-Day Fast

‘We manufacture romance’
Dar Gai and Dheer Momaya
Co-founders of Jugaad Motion Pictures