Tanin Nikpey didn’t expect to put her marriage under a microscope, but that’s exactly what happened.
During an emotional and candid interview on the AllAboutTRH Podcast, Tanin opened up about what it was really like sharing her relationship with husband Greg Haroutunian on The Valley Persian Style. And surprisingly, what she thought would be uncomfortable ended up becoming something completely different.
When asked if she anticipated being so open about her marriage on camera, Tanin didn’t hesitate.
“Not at all. I thought we were going to be so reserved,” she admitted. “But it’s weird that the cameras were on, and then you really do forget that they’re there.”
What started as hesitation quickly turned into something unexpected.
“And honestly, it’s kind of like the only way to have some kind of a therapy with your spouse, because there are the things you usually would never talk about,” Tanin explained. “So it is very therapeutic, you know, and I have his attention. Talking to men is really difficult.”
Married to Greg for six years and together for ten, Tanin has been honest this season about the communication struggles they’ve faced. But according to her, filming didn’t damage their relationship, it strengthened it.
When asked directly whether the show helped her marriage, Tanin revealed:
“Actually surprisingly it really did. It made us communicate so much better. We still are in the works. But it helped us actually see it to work on it.”
She went on to explain that watching yourself back, and seeing your dynamic from an outside perspective — can be eye-opening.
“It amplifies all your problems so you kind of see it, see the bigger picture, and then you’re like, okay, this actually a problem,” she said. “Before I didn’t really think it was an issue because you kind of become your everyday norm. I’ll do my own, you do your own thing. I’m not unhappy, but I’m probably not fully happy either.”
And that realization was pivotal.
“But I think when you see it from a different perspective and see yourself on camera, you’re like oh, no, we should work on this a lot.”
While reality TV is often blamed for breaking relationships apart, Tanin’s experience tells a different story. Instead of driving a wedge between her and Greg, filming forced conversations they may not have had otherwise — and brought clarity to issues that had quietly become routine.
For Tanin, the cameras didn’t just capture drama. They sparked growth.
To hear more about Tanin’s experience on The Valley Persian Style and her candid thoughts on marriage, friendship, and reality TV, be sure to listen to the full interview on the AllAboutTRH Podcast, available wherever you get your podcasts.
The Valley: Persian Style airs Thursday nights at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo.