What's the Reality? – Love Is Blind UK’s Sarover: From Heartbreak to Healing

Podcast Host: Amber Desiree (AD) | Guest: Sarova (Love Is Blind UK Season 2 Cast Member)
Release Date: September 17, 2025

Episode Overview

In this rich and emotionally candid episode, Amber Desiree welcomes back Sarova, standout cast member from Love Is Blind UK Season 2. The discussion traces Sarova’s journey in the aftermath of her highly publicized marriage and breakup, showcasing her raw process of healing, her newfound confidence as a British Indian woman, and what she hopes viewers (and herself) take away from her reality TV experience. The conversation also dives deep into family, identity, representation, and what real healing looks like after heartbreak on a public stage.
Episode content begins at [01:02].

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Sarova's Life Post-Show: The Aftermath of Love and Loss

• On Processing the Breakup

  • Sarova describes the weeks following the end of her marriage as a time of "grieving a relationship but not a person," filled with busyness, support, and emotional upheaval ([02:02]).
  • Quote: "I've been grieving a relationship but not a person." – Sarova ([02:02])

• Support Systems and Coping

  • Family, especially her mother and sisters, were her emotional anchors.
  • Gym friends played a critical role since the breakup couldn't be disclosed publicly for months due to the show’s secrecy ([04:35]).
  • Vulnerability and seeking help became central to her healing:
    "From that day I realized I need to be vulnerable and I need help. And they were there for me." – Sarova ([05:14])

Identity, Representation, and Self-Discovery

• Career & Background

  • Sarova is a medical company owner and former competitive kickboxer—a unique background often overshadowed by show drama.
  • Kickboxing began as a way to empower herself and her sisters, instilling confidence and physical self-protection ([03:17]).

• Impact of South Asian Representation

  • Unexpectedly, she has become a figure for South Asian women seeking visibility and voice.
  • Quote:
    "I didn’t realize how much there was going to be South Asian representation... strangers telling me how proud they were of me and sharing their stories." – Sarova ([05:42])
  • Her experience sparked a desire to "normalize" taboo topics and empower girls to make choices for themselves.

The Love Is Blind Experience

• Why She Joined the Show

  • Grew up with traditional expectations and felt pressure to marry a parental “tick box” man. After being ghosted at 29, she decided to break the cycle and “do something different” ([06:51]).
  • "I need to find someone for me. So when I went on, I was basically...be vulnerable, be open-minded and lead with an open heart." ([07:41])

• Connections in The Pods

  • Her strongest bond was with Cal, but she also connected with Jav, Patrick, and Demola, some of which have evolved into deep friendships ([09:44]).
  • "You can kind of talk to these guys at a level where it’s deeper friendships... I don’t have many guy friends, so that definitely came out from it." ([09:53])

On-Show Red Flags & Relationship Reflections

• Red Flags with Cal

  • Cal’s focus on “usual type” and on-camera vs. off-camera behaviors sparked insecurity ([10:26]).
  • She noticed moments where physical affection seemed performed, raising questions about Cal's sincerity.
    • Quote: "Is off camera, on camera the same person?" – Sarova ([12:06])
  • Discrepancies in values and emotional support became clear in retrospect.

• Cal’s Family’s Candor

  • Cal’s brother’s doubts (that Cal struggled to put others first) were not revealed to Sarova until she saw the trailer ([17:12]).
  • "When you’re in love... you kind of feel that. But he’s with me now. Maybe he can change for me." ([17:40])

The End of the Marriage

• How Cal Ended Things

  • The breakup was abrupt and cold, happening on January 2nd at home and without any prior discussion ([18:47]).
  • "He was like, 'Yeah, so we're gonna end this now.' And I'm looking at him, and I was like, end what?" ([18:53])
  • Cal cited them being "different people," Sarova being “more emotional and affectionate,” and a lack of “spark” as reasons ([20:04]).
  • Sarova was shocked and devastated—no supportive follow-up or closure was offered by Cal.

• Processing Grief and Self-Questioning

  • The breakup left her questioning the authenticity of the entire marriage, feeling like “collateral damage," but recognizing her own worth ([23:01], [24:52]).

• Imbalance and Being Voiceless

  • Examples of power imbalance: Cal’s insistence on where they’d live, hanging up during discussions, and making her feel unheard ([25:15]).
  • "It really is his way or no way." – Sarova ([26:30])

• Growth and Boundaries

  • Had the relationship continued, Sarova feels she’d have “gone to a pretty dark place” and lost herself ([27:35]).
  • "Do not allow yourself to ever be jeopardized for love. You may be in love with the wrong person." ([27:41])

The Reunion: Trauma & Moving Forward

• The Reunion’s Toll

  • The reunion was “the most traumatic day” since the breakup. She hadn’t seen or spoken to Cal until the filming ([30:56]).
  • Her focus was to share her truth and be a voice for women who’ve “broken culture” or defied expectations: "Find the courage, find the confidence and sit there and tell my truth." – Sarova ([31:29])

• A Message for South Asian and Immigrant Daughters

  • She feared being used as an example “not to break tradition,” but stood strong in her belief that culture shouldn’t limit love ([32:37]).
  • "You can’t say love has boundaries in terms of your background, your skin color, your culture, your financial status, none of that." ([33:19])

• Contact with Cal After Reunion

  • Cal attempted to reconnect, but “wasn’t hearing” her, so Sarova eventually blocked him on socials to preserve her peace ([34:16]).

• Divorce & Moving On

  • Because they married in Scotland, they must wait a year to file for divorce. She sees divorce as a step toward reclaiming agency and “showing there’s life after that” ([36:15]).

Healing, Sisterhood, and Life After

• Cast Friendships & Sisterhood

  • Deep bonds with the other women brought her unexpected healing and strength ([37:16]).
  • "If you don't end up with true love, you can definitely end up with friendship love. And, yeah, that's special for sure." – Sarova ([37:47])

• Dating Now & Looking Forward

  • Not currently dating—focused on healing first but feels “ready now” ([39:22]).
  • Lessons learned: prioritizing her own voice, asking hard questions, refusing to “be jeopardized for love,” and embracing vulnerability ([39:50]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments with Timestamps

• "I've been grieving a relationship but not a person." – Sarova ([02:02])
• "From that day I realized I need to be vulnerable and I need help. And they were there for me." – Sarova ([05:14])
• "I didn’t realize how much there was going to be South Asian representation... strangers telling me how proud they were of me and sharing their stories." – Sarova ([05:42])
• "If someone's not going to hear you or someone silences you, then you're not in the right relationship." – Sarova ([27:53])
• "Find the courage, find the confidence and sit there and tell my truth." – Sarova ([31:29])
• "You can't say love has boundaries in terms of your background, your skin color, your culture, your financial status, none of that." – Sarova ([33:19])
• "If you don't end up with true love, you can definitely end up with friendship love." – Sarova ([37:47])
• "To find the right person, you have to be ready for it. So I am ready now. But no, there's no one there." – Sarova ([39:22])

Fun & Lighthearted Segment: Love is Blind Season 9 Taglines (from [40:53])

Amber and Sarova read and react to new cast member taglines—a fun callback to the show's tone and insider humor.

Highlights:

• Nick: "I move fast and I hope you can keep up with me."
  -"I'm not sure. I feel like that's like a crazy dating rollercoaster..." – Sarova ([41:04])

• Dayo: "Too much negativity gives me the ick."

  • Both find this a red flag; Sarova is triggered due to Cal’s similar phrase ([41:47]).

• Jordan: "I take a lot of pride in being a dad."

  • "I love that…raising a child, that’s unconditional love." – Sarova ([42:11])

• Michael: "I want someone with a beautiful soul."

  • "Michael, you're ready. You're ready to be at the altar tomorrow." – Sarova ([42:45])

• Joe: "I can burn down the house at karaoke."

  • "Where are we going to live tomorrow if the house is burned down?" – Sarova ([43:06])

Sarova on Watching Season 9 & Her Future

• Sarova plans to watch Love Is Blind Season 9 on October 1st, which coincides with her divorce eligibility—a symbolic full-circle moment ([43:33]).

Summary Table of Key Segments & Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------------------|-------------| | Sarova on her emotional journey (post-show) | [02:02] | | Family/gym friends as support | [04:35] | | Being a kickboxing champ | [03:17] | | South Asian representation | [05:42] | | Why she joined Love Is Blind | [06:51] | | Connections beyond Cal | [09:44] | | Red flags with Cal | [10:26] | | Cal’s family revelations | [17:12] | | The breakup story | [18:47] | | Navigating grief and questioning reality | [23:01] | | Power imbalance in marriage | [25:15] | | Lessons learned and moving forward | [27:53] | | Reunion trauma and empowerment | [30:56] | | Addressing South Asian daughter pressures | [32:37] | | Friendship and sisterhood | [37:16] | | Ready to date, identity and boundaries | [39:22] | | Tagline game and Season 9 hype | [40:53] |

Final Reflections

This episode delivers potent honesty about heartbreak, self-discovery, and resilience. Sarova emerges as a thoughtful, empowered example for anyone navigating love and loss on (or off) camera, especially women of color facing cultural expectation. The humor, heart, and hope throughout her conversation with Amber Desiree make this a must-listen for fans of Love Is Blind and anyone searching for lessons in love, community, and self-worth.