New Mom Rushi Kota Mastered Hallmark's 'Make Me a Match' Role Amidst Diaper Duty

Rushi Kota Photographer: ©Raul Romo; Wardrobe stylist: Luca Kingston

Rushi Kota made his Hallmark Channel debut days after he landed the role of a lifetime and became a first-time father.

The star of Make Me a Match, aged 36, confided exclusively to We on Wednesday, June 28, that he handled fatherhood poorly while on location in Canada for the Hallmark movie earlier this year.

Adding to the stress, Kota revealed that his wife's due date coincided with his first day of shooting. Although they had decided to induce labor a week earlier, it did not go according to plan.

After their elective procedure at the hospital was canceled, Kota and his wife, Reeshelle, made every effort to facilitate the natural progression of labor. "Miraculously, it seems he heard our pleas," Kota reminisced about his son's birth in March, which happened after Reeshelle's water broke and she had a hassle-free delivery. "I can still recall balancing diaper changes and sleepless nights while also working on my character and memorizing lines."

Kota admitted that being away from his newborn son was challenging while on set. However, he also expressed pride in the movie and eagerly anticipated watching it with his son when he grows older. Now that his son is three months old, Kota confessed to Us that he still feels thoroughly unprepared to be a father, despite his efforts to educate himself through parenting podcasts and reading materials.

"I could have not prepared at all for becoming a father and I would still be in the exact same position as I am now," he humorously remarked. "Thankfully, my wife is extremely clever and knows precisely what to do. She educates me as I stumble through parenthood like a fish out of water."

Despite the challenges, Kota found comfort in his portrayal of Boom in Hallmark's Make Me a Match, which debuted on Saturday, June 24.

Craig Minielly/Hallmark Media/Photographer

I was attracted to the character of Boom in Make Me A Match for the reason that I would portray the first South Asian male lead in a Hallmark film," he stated to Us. "It's paradoxical that he is an indecisive serial dater, but his actual profession is to connect individuals with life partners through the family matchmaking business."

Vivi (played by Eva Bourne) discovers the world of Indian matchmaking while working for her company's dating app. Unbeknownst to her, she also becomes the object of a setup with the matchmaker's son, Boom (portrayed by Kota).

According to Kota, who is of Indian American descent, finding a balance between "modern romance" and "Indian matchmaking" was surprisingly effortless. He explains that the two concepts are more alike than people realize. While South Asian culture is often associated with arranged marriages, Indian matchmaking has evolved beyond that. Much like modern dating apps, clients are now matched based on factors such as shared interests, physical attraction, age, and location.

According to the Never Have I Ever actor, utilizing matchmakers could lead couples to progress more quickly towards marriage due to factors such as astrological compatibility and the initial vetting process between families. Additionally, Kota mentioned that the film effectively showcases the ability to modernize and make traditional matchmaking accessible to a wider audience.