Jodi365.com

Women, don't be self-conscious about being sweaty! To sweat is human. I just got back from a morning walk/jog with Bittu, looking exactly like this... and it reminded me how many women feel awkward after a workout, or even during a normal day, if they look anything less than perfectly polished. Don't let the beauty-industrial complex convince you that sweat is something to hide. Here's some straight talk from a man: A surprising number of men are not turned off by a woman who's worked up a sweat. Many even find it attractive, as it signals health, effort, vitality, and being real. So listen to your core, not to the madness out there. Be yourself. Work on inner beauty. Radiate kindness. That's what lasts. Save this if you needed the reminder. Share it with a woman who constantly worries about looking "perfect." For more unfiltered perspectives on life, love, relationships, and wellness, follow along. Take care.

Single and "doing fine"? This reel is for you. Why, you may want to share it with a friend for the useful perspective therein. For more such unfiltered perspectives on life, love, and relationships, follow along.

Toxic narcissism. That's what this is about. I'm surprised I even have the bandwidth for this right now, but it's an important message. There’s a lot of casual talk about "narcissists" these days. While I won't invalidate anyone's lived experience, we also need to be careful not to confuse temporary selfishness, assertiveness, or entitlement with something far more serious. There is a clinical condition called Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD). It's estimated that up to 7% of people may have it, and it requires a proper clinical diagnosis based on specific criteria. Most of us can't carry the full set of 9 clinical criteria – from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) – in our heads. So, here’s a simpler filter I personally use — the 3 E's Test: 1. Is the person Exploitative? 2. Do they show a strong sense of Entitlement? 3. Do they have a clear Empathy deficit? Almost everyone shows these traits occasionally. The red flag is when they show up pervasively and consistently. Stay on guard, especially in the modern singles jungle. Knowledge is power. Save this. Share it with someone who needs to hear it, because one can't have a healthy relationship with a narc; you can only stay away, for your own peace. For more useful perspectives on life, love, and relationships, follow along. Take care.

I have been playing *defense* in the Jodi365 v. Jodii legal battle and haven't had the bandwidth to think about the descriptive nature, or otherwise, of my opponent's various marks. I didn't ask for this fight, either. It is my opponent who brought it upon us with their launch (in Oct. 2021) of the infringing Jodii mark and service and the resulting existential threat to us. It may have been a minor inconvenience to the publicly-listed behemoth, starting with our issuing a cease-and-desist notice *within days* of Jodii's launch. Yet, I wasn't going to roll over and play dead as they ran roughshod over my brand and business. If they underestimated the fight in this tiger or the consequences of launching and scaling a new brand with seeming disregard for the risks associated with trademark infringement and passing off, then it's on *them*. I love that I can borrow this apt line from the blockbuster movie, Dhurandhar: "Ghayal hoon, isiliye ghaatak hoon." That's Hindi for: "I am wounded, which is why I am dangerous." However, my main wish, as I choose to keep the focus on my customers rather than play offense and take the fight into enemy territory, is this: Satyameva jayate. 🙏

This is a David-vs-Goliath story, of a solo founder going up against a publicy-listed behemoth and fighting the good fight. 17+ years ago, I left a comfortable corporate career and ventured on an entrepreneurial path. Realizing that Indian matchmaking was still largely broken, I founded and carefully built Jodi365, helping serious singles find the right partner for the long term. Over the next 12 years, we grew slowly, steadily, sustainably. Then, in Oct 2021, a large incumbent launched a new app called Jodii, for the same kind of matrimonial services. We sent a cease-and-desist notice. They blew us off. We took them to court, within weeks, and believed we had a slam-dunk case. However, a single judge dismissed our case, in Jul 2022. We could have given up, but didn't. We appealed, because we had a strong case for trademark infringement and passing off. We also needed to protect our brand and business against the real, rampant confusion. Countless people were reaching out to us with problems they had with the confusing brand and holding us responsible. Our own users and potential customers were hesitating to subscribe because they were confused between the two brands. The turning point came on Aug 11, 2026, when the Division Bench of the Madras High Court ruled in our favor. The judges ruled that Jodii is deceptively similar to Jodi365, that it would cause confusion, and that "the attempt on the part of [Matrimony Ltd] was nothing but to infringe on [our] trademark so as to pass off its services as that of [ours] and gain undue advantage" from the goodwill, the brand Jodi365 had built. They granted us a permanent injunction restraining Matrimony from using Jodii – and any deceptively similar mark – for matrimonial services. Let that sink in. This isn't just a personal win. It's a signal to every founder who's painstakingly building a brand: If you register it, use it consistently, stand up for it, the law can protect you, even against a much bigger rival. I am deeply grateful to the judges for a thoughtful, principle-driven judgment and to everyone who believed in us and stood by us. That includes Begum and other loved ones; dear friends; our investors and clients; our general counsel, B. Mohan; and our phenomenal IP attorney, Sathish Kumar! Satyameva jayate. Know an entrepreneur? Share this story!

More to come. Theme: Satyameva jayate. Stay tuned.

Want to remain single? Keep requiring the guy to make at least as much as you – even if he's still in his mid-to-late 20s and building his career. This is tough love, but more single women need to hear it. I keep seeing the same pattern: Well-educated, high-earning single women who only want men earning equal or more. Meanwhile, there are solid guys in their 20s and 30s, especially in careers with longer runways, who won't even get a chance. Fast-forward five years, and those same men may be earning several times more, after their careers have taken off... while the pool of men who "measure up" to her own rising standards gets smaller and smaller. I see it all the time, as a professional matchmaker. Don't blame it on the men. Sure, there are men with insecurities, but don't hide behind, "He'll have ego issues." Own your preference! Let's address hypergamy, and I'm not here to fight with women, because I serve men AND women. Yet, I can only help people who let me help them. Take my advice. It's okay to desire a certain lifestyle. But stop fixating on a single data point: his current salary. Look at his trajectory. Look at his potential. Bet on the winning horse if you must. (It's good for the species.) Otherwise, accept that the older you get, the higher your own education, professional qualifications, and income climb, the fewer the men who will meet your rising bar with each passing year. As for those men who do measure up: The higher THEY climb, the more valuable they get because their stock rises in the eyes of potential matches. They have great pickings. Understand this plain and simple supply and demand relationship. Now, preferences are personal. But I'd encourage you to separate your must-haves from your nice-to-haves. Use common sense. Thank me later. Save this if it made you pause. Share it with a friend who needs this reality check. For more unfiltered perspectives on life, love, and relationships, follow along.

I have been a fool in love, on more than one occasion, rushing in where angels fear to tread. It has led to heartbreak—even divorce—more than once. I talk about my story not only because it's mine to own, but also because there's a cautionary tale in it for others. She and I met at a professional networking event. Our first dinner date went until 6 AM, almost 10 hours. We were both running businesses, yet would stay up late talking into the night. Exactly a month after that dinner, we had an impromptu engagement, in the presence of our parents. Within another month and a half, we were married! It was a whirlwind romance and courtship. I don't recommend rushing like that. Had we taken more time, we may never have come together. Sometimes two people are simply like oil and water: No matter how much you stir, they just won't mix. It was no fault of either of us. It just wasn't meant to blend. The experience taught me a lot about compatibility, timing, and the importance of taking time in getting to know whether someone may be right for you and you for them. Save this, if you see useful food for thought as you reflect on your own timelines for engagement and marriage. Share it with someone who's on an express train in a budding relationship. And for more unfiltered perspectives on life, love, and relationships, follow along.

Be present. Be in the moment. Cherish your loved ones. Chennai time capsule, 22 May 2026

Don't hesitate when it comes to demanding or even discussing dowry. You heard it right! Don't be subtle. Don't be shy. Here's why: You could help some unsuspecting young woman and her family to dodge a bullet! You could save yourself time, too. Although, if you keep it up, you'd end up DOING time. I'm surprised that we are even having to have this conversation—in 2026. But as it came up the other night, as part of what we call a discovery call in onboarding a new client at Jodi365, I realized that I need to have a public conversation on this. The onboarding call was with this fine young woman in her early 30s, attractive, well-educated, doing very well professionally. She was joined by her elderly mother, a single parent, who described how exhausting, how frustrating the matrimonial search process had been. She also talked about how, occasionally, dowry demands would crop up – in subtle ways and in not so subtle ways, as in the case of this young man's mother who told her, "My son has an MS from the US, and this is the dowry we expect." Keep in mind, the young woman's own education, professional credentials, or personal qualities did not matter to the underlying mindset. This wasn't cultural tradition being politely preserved. This was the same old transactional thinking, dressed in a fancy suit. In a way, better than some families disingenuously saying that, "We don't have any expectations," quite like how a spineless but corrupt government official might put it, "but you are welcome to offer, give whatever you want." Regardless, as the saying goes, "When somebody shows you who they are, believe them." If even the slightest hint of dowry expectations come up, walk! No amount of thinking that, "Oh, but the guy is well settled" ... "Oh, but the family is otherwise nice" will solve the core problem, because the family has already shown you how they think. Dowry demands tell you a lot more about someone's character, values, and the power dynamics within a household than any two-dimensional bio data ever will. They tell you how your daughter would be treated once she enters a household. They tell you how things would change once money and status would no longer flow the way they expect. As for any entitled men out there: If you value a comfortable life, work hard and earn it for yourself. Why, better still, build it together! If you say that it's your family bringing it up, and you stay silent, you're being complicit. Remember that high-value men don't let their parents put a price tag or set a financial entry fee for a partner. They choose based on character, compatibility, and mutual respect. What respect would your wife have if you hide behind mummy's pallu? Grow a pair. Be a man. And don't be a whiny baby, either, and bring up this false equivalence between dowry and alimony. That's a topic for another time. For more such unfiltered perspectives on life, love, relationships, and marriage, follow along. Be good.

Good guys: Please shoot your shot. This is a PSA just for you. The bad boys already do it. If you find a woman interesting — especially if she’s attractive, intelligent, or accomplished — don’t overthink it. Just approach her. Don’t stress about the perfect line. Say what’s on your mind. Even if you stumble, you’ll come across as authentic… and that’s far more attractive than being slick or rehearsed. As a matchmaker, I hear this constantly from very desirable women (beauty + brains): “I wish more good guys had the confidence to just come up and talk to me.” Most of them never do. They assume she’s “out of their league.” Here’s the truth: Women care deeply about a man’s personality, charm, character, and resourcefulness — often more than pure looks. You guys are lucky that way. So stop freezing. Stop talking yourself out of it. Shoot your shot. Thank me later. Save this. Share it with a good guy who always holds back. Tag him below. For more useful perspectives on life, love, and relationships, follow along. Good luck out there.

One of the surest ways to kill your chances with a woman is by double-texting her. Don't do that sh!t. Women are generally much better at this than men. Besides, accustomed as they are to men shooting their shot and to getting to choose, they come across as needy far less often. So this one's especially for you men out there: Send that message, and wait. That's it. If she's genuinely busy, she'll reply when she has the bandwidth, and you can pick it up from there. If she's not interested or doesn't reply, read the room. Double-texting with, "Did you see my message?" or "I was thinking of another plan..." doesn't show persistence; it signals neediness. And women can smell desperation from a mile away. It's a massive turn-off. High-value men don't sit around refreshing their phones waiting for a potential love interest to give them time of day. They send the message, present themselves, and go live their life. Because they have options. They have abundance. Double-texting signals the opposite: Low confidence and limited options. Stop chasing. Start living like a high-value man. Save this. Share it with boys who keep double-texting. Tag a guy who could benefit from this friendly reminder. For more direct, useful perspectives on life, love, and relationships, follow along. Thank me later.

The biggest mistake you can make about money? That was the question I faced from @RaviHanda on a recent episode of the Desi Fire podcast. My answer: Choosing the wrong life partner! I've carried this wisdom for over 30 years, from a fav book by H. Jackson Brown, Jr.: "Choose your life partner carefully. 90% of your happiness or misery will come from this one decision." Across cultures and time, the biggest sources of tension in relationships are almost always the same three things: money, sex, and in-laws. With money in particular, misalignment creates constant friction: one person wants to earn more, the other doesn't. One wants to spend, the other wants to save. The psychology of money matters deeply. How someone thinks about wealth, spending, saving, and financial goals will shape your entire life together. Too many people avoid these conversations early on. They rationalize. They hope it will work out. Don't make that mistake. Have the difficult conversations about money before you commit. Save this if it made you pause. Share it with someone who's in a relationship or thinking about one. Tag a friend who needs this reminder. For more unfiltered perspectives on life, love, money, and relationships, follow along.

Men and women are different. Don't walk into a relationship or marriage with a weighing scale expecting a perfect 50/50 every single day. It will rarely be 50/50. Just like a broken clock is right twice a day, a relationship might hit equilibrium for a moment while it's actually swinging between 60/40, 70/30, or even 20/80 during tough stretches. Sometimes you'll carry more. Sometimes they will. The key is knowing that the "40" the other person is giving might be things you simply can't do. Relationships require constant recalibration. If you go in expecting rigid equality at all times, you're setting yourself up for disappointment. Save this if it made you think. Share it with someone who's struggling with "equality" in their relationship. Tag a couple who may benefit from this reminder. For more unfiltered perspectives on life, love, and relationships, follow along.