“Family Karma” Season 3 is ending with Amrit Kapai and Nicholas Kouchoukos’ big, gay Indian wedding — and a whole lot of tears, according to the couple.
“Bring a full tissue box with you because there are so many emotions … [and] viewers are going to see that,” Kapai, 35, exclusively tells Page Six in a joint interview with his 39-year-old husband.
“It’s emotional. Viewers are going to see my close friends and my community talk about our journey together [and] our relationship.”
The newlyweds have experienced their fair share of highs and lows throughout their decade-plus together.
A pre-wedding challenge came when Kouchoukos’ mother and father, devout Catholics, didn’t express fervent support for their son’s same-sex nuptials that would eventually take place in April 2022.
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Still, they agreed to attend the lavish, days-long Atlanta celebration — but declined to be filmed for the Bravo series, a decision that might transcend religious affiliations.
“My mom was more reserved and shy and isn’t necessarily one to be around a huge crowd,” Kouchoukos says, acknowledging a seemingly multi-layered aversion to attention — and cameras.
“So, some of it is just their personalities and some of it is probably due to other things and I’ll leave it at that.”
Defending his spouse’s parents, Kapai adds, “Not everyone is jumping for an opportunity to be on TV, especially reality TV where you don’t necessarily know how you’re going to be portrayed.”
On the bright side, Kouchoukos says that it was “really fun” to watch his mom and dad let loose away from production.
“You could see smiles on the faces, you could see happiness on their faces. But you really saw a difference in their personalities,” the teacher gushes. “My dad, he was pretty social, he loved learning about all the Indian culture and the food and the different traditions.”
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The pair also points out that, despite any piety and reality TV optics, Kouchoukos’ parents have “showered” them with love over the years.
“I can’t even begin to count how many care packages we’ve received from my parents over the years with handmade things for the two of us and sweets made for the two of us,” Kouchoukos says.
“Every time I see my parents, we say ‘I love you’ a million times and I talk to them every day. I just grew up in a very loving household.”
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Meanwhile, Kapai applauds his in-laws for the “progress” they’ve made since he and Kouchoukos exchanged “I dos” in an interfaith ceremony that combined Hindu and Christian traditions.
“They’ve more than accepted us. At this point, they really have come so far with embracing us and celebrating us. But it’s been a struggle,” he tells Page Six.
“I always tell people it’s a struggle for the person coming out, but it’s just as hard for the close ones to that person — the parents, the immediate family members.”
Although Kapai’s mother, Lavina, and father, Suresh, took time to process their own son’s sexuality, they have shown boundless enthusiasm for the men’s relationship — and the LGBTQIA+ community at large — in recent years.
Lavina and Suresh were particularly protective of Kouchoukos leading up to the wedding, offering him words of affirmation and a shoulder to cry on in times of distress.
“It’s an amazing and really heartwarming feeling,” he says. “It kind of eases some of the distress that has been there with my parents.”
Equally heartwarming is the feedback Kapai and Kouchoukos have received from queer viewers, who feel represented by their love story.
“I want viewers, especially our LGBTQIA+ viewers, to walk away from this wedding thinking, ‘Wow, this is possible for me,’” says Kapai, who received the Human Rights Campaign Visibility Award earlier this month.
“I don’t want anyone to think that they can’t have it all because they’re gay or they’re transgender or they’re queer or their questioning [themselves]. Whatever it is, it doesn’t matter. It should not be a roadblock to you achieving what you want.”
The “Family Karma” Season 3 finale airs Sunday at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo.