Plot Synopsis

SHAHS OF SUNSET follows a group of Los Angeles-based, Persian-American friends who are trying to juggle their active social lives and up-and-coming careers while balancing the demands of their families and traditions. From outings on Rodeo Drive to traditional Persian feasts at home, these socialites are players on the dating and party scene, but also seek approval from their families and face pressures to settle down and marry within the community. Season 1 chronicled these friends: Reza Farahan, a 38-year-old prominent player in the Los Angeles real estate world, who was born in Tehran, Iran, raised in Beverly Hills, and is now one of the few openly gay Persians in the community; Golnesa 'GG' Gharachedaghi, a Persian Princess fully supported by her father, who goes out to lunch with her friends during the day and shops for Mr. Persian Right at night; Mercedes 'MJ' Javid, a 30-something-year-old, luxury real-estate agent living in the Hollywood Hills, who struggles to balance her nightlife with her early mornings at the office while fighting with her overbearing and unconventional Persian mother, Vida; Asa Soltan Rahmati, a 35-year-old singer/artist prominent in the Venice artist scene, who grew up in Europe and now prides herself on living the "Modern Persian gypsy bohemian lifestyle" while staying true to herself and her career; Mike Shouhed, a 33-year-old reformed player, who was a high roller in the Vegas commercial real estate market but lost his shirt in the crash and has moved back home to rebuild; and Sammy Younai, a 35-year-old is a ladies man, who is a residential developer in Beverly Hills specializing in building multi-million dollar homes specifically for the Persian community.

Season 2, which premiered on Sunday, December 2, 2012 at 10pm ET, featured new girl Lilly Ghalichi in place of Sammy, with the other five cast members returning for a new season. Lilly seems to have it all -- she's rich, thin, successful and has a wealthy and powerful on-again-off-again boyfriend -- but underneath her veneer of Persian perfection, Lilly wrestles with balancing her successful swimwear line in Los Angeles and boyfriend back in Houston. Meanwhile, Reza is reevaluating everything in his life, GG is starting a business with her sister, party girl MJ is ready to find a real relationship with a good guy, Asa continues to pursue her dream of becoming a Persian pop princess while distributing Diamond Water, and Mike has met the girl of his dreams -- but she isn't Jewish.

SHAHS OF SUNSET returned for its third season on Tuesday, November 5, 2013 at 10pm ET/PT on Bravo, with all cast members returning for the new season. During Season 3, Reza turns 40 and re-evaluates everything in his life -- from finally moving in with his boyfriend Adam to his rocky business partnership with Mike. Newly single MJ mends her relationships with former BFF Reza and 'Iron Mom' Vida, but an unexpected conflict with GG leaves everyone wondering if the two will ever be the same. Mike struggles with some serious life decisions in business and love, while GG works to redeem herself with her friends, mending bonds with her alienated family and making a go of it with a new boyfriend. After a public battle with MJ, Lilly finds herself focusing on work as her friendships within the group are tested. Asa is reinventing herself again and finds herself the unlikely water entrepreneur behind Diamond Water. Plus, the whole gang take an emotional trip to Turkey to reunite with long-lost family that culminates in a trip to see their Iranian homeland.

On Monday, March 2, 2015 at 10pm ET/PT, Bravo premiered the fourth season of SHAHS OF SUNSET, as new cast member Asifa Mirza joins Reza, GG, MJ, Asa and Mike for a new season when a scandalous accusation from one of their own shakes the group to the core. In the Season 4 opener, "I Am Gay Ghandi," he gang rings in the Persian New Year surrounded by love, friends and bling. During the celebration it becomes apparent that Mike has been drifting away from the crew and the mood dampens when he picks a fight with Asifa's boyfriend Bobby over a fashion faux pas. Then, in the season's second episode, Mike's girlfriend Jessica completes her conversion to Judaism and GG reveals a secret that could cast a dark cloud over the tight knit group. To soak up the California sun, the crew decides to organize a luxurious staycation in Malibu, but the dynamic shifts when Mike faces off with Asifa's boyfriend, Bobby, for the second time.

Season 5 of SHAHS OF SUNSET premiered on Sunday, April 10, 2016 at 9pm ET/PT on Bravo. After last year's broken engagement, Reza faces a difficult crossroads in his relationship with Adam. Ready to finally take the plunge, he contemplates throwing a surprise wedding, but is confronted with harsh resistance from his closest friend MJ, who is dead-set against the ambush. Working with her parents in a new business venture, Asa rediscovers her passion for fashion with the debut launch of her kaftan line, Asa Kaftans. But when new-world and old-world values collide, Asa is forced to reconcile her love of family with the challenge of building a new company from the ground up. Mike's first year of marriage with Jessica proves difficult to navigate as cheating rumors threaten to destroy their marriage and his friendships. Driven by financial pressure and a lifelong passion for shoes, Mike risks his financial future as he launches his own fashion line. MJ may have found the man of her dreams in new boyfriend Tommy, but her tenuous relationship with her mother, Vida, threatens to destroy her chance at love. GG comes face-to-face with her greatest demon yet, as she fights the crippling effects of Rheumatoid Arthritis. But when her inner circle casts doubt on the severity of her illness, she struggles with perhaps the toughest decision of all: moving on without the support of her friends. Newest cast member, Shervin Roohparvar is an entrepreneur from Silicon Valley who has found success in the tech, nightlife, and retail industries. He soon discovers the disadvantages of being a 35 year-old single Persian man in Los Angeles. Despite his overwhelmingly high standards, he's finally ready to give relationships his best shot and find the woman of his dreams.

The sixth season of SHAHS OF SUNSET premiered on Sunday, July 16, 2017 at 8pm ET/PT on Bravo, as Asa Soltan Rahmati, Golnesa 'GG' Gharachedaghi, Mercedes 'MJ' Javid, Mike Shouhed, Reza Farahan and Shervin Roohparvar return for a new season. This season, Asa is thrilled to share the news with her friends that she and her longtime boyfriend are expecting their "miracle" baby. But when her announcement is met with questions and they begin to cast doubt on her claims, her position in the group is jeopardized. This only adds to the stress of her fallout with MJ, who finds herself more determined than ever to expand her own family. Having accepted her fiance Tommy's proposal last year and finally possessing a clear direction of where her life is headed, MJ's world is rocked when her father's health takes a turn. Reza finds himself entrenched in this girl-on-girl fallout and is eventually forced to choose a side, all while dealing with challenges inherent in the first year of marriage. His husband Adam's bout of baby fever forces him to learn the art of compromise. Still reeling from his divorce, Mike works toward a fresh start with a flashy new home and promising business ventures on the horizon. But despite the fact that he is ready to date, his ex-wife is never far from his mind. Shervin, who also has love on the brain, is finally ready to take his relationship with long-distance girlfriend Annalise to the next level. But things get complicated when swirling rumors of infidelity leave him in the hot seat. Despite the fact that GG becomes embroiled in Shervin's tide of accusations, she is on top of the world. Having learned to focus her fiery energy toward improving herself and taking control of her Rheumatoid Arthritis, she lands an acting job in an off-Broadway play and accepts her boyfriend's surprise marriage proposal. Hoping that a trip to Israel will be the key to mending their tarnished friendships, the group quickly realizes that the drama is only just beginning.

Season 7 of SHAHS OF SUNSET premiered on Thursday, August 2, 2018 at 9pm ET/PT on Bravo. Though feisty best friends Golnesa "GG" Gharachedaghi, Mercedes "MJ" Javid, Mike Shouhed, and Reza Farahan have gone through just about everything together, the adventure is only just beginning as they each embark on the newest chapter in their lives. Familiar face Destiney Rose is back and when Mike introduces Branding Executive Nema Vand to the crew, the self-professed "white-washed Persian" wastes no time shaking things up. Still reeling from last year's pitfalls, these tight-knit Shahs must confront deep-rooted issues - both within themselves and amongst the group - in order to lift each other up and take the next steps toward their future. This season, MJ is poised to marry her Prince Charming Tommy in true Shahs fashion, but her pre-wedding glow is dulled when her opinionated mother Vida gets involved and her father's health begins to rapidly decline. When MJ finds herself plagued by indecision and self-doubt, the whole crew must come together to keep her steady and help get her down the aisle. Well into the second year of wedded bliss, Reza and his husband Adam are in the process of renovating their brand new house and settling down, but tensions build when one of Reza's investments interferes with Adam's surrogacy plans. Mike, ever the alpha-male with unrealistically high expectations, is determined to find the next Mrs. Shouhed, but does not take well to bestie Reza's input on his dating choices, leading to a heated standoff during MJ's bachelorette party in Vegas. Destiney is eager to dip her toes into the dating pool, but realizes she must confront her own trust issues first. In an attempt to find peace, she hires a private detective to track down her absentee father, but what she finds leaves her questioning whether she can handle the truth. After a recent failed marriage, GG is on a quest for independence, but rethinks her decision to remain single and try for a baby on her own when newcomer Nema showers her with attention. Joining this audacious crew is never easy, but Nema manages to hold his own and quickly finds himself in a complicated love triangle. Looking to get to the root of his ongoing relationship struggles as an adult, the group bands together to help Nema gain the confidence to confront his unconventional family about his broken upbringing. In the season opener, "A Short Kiss Goodnight," Mike is single and ready to mingle with new crush Mona; Nema only has eyes for GG, who is still in the middle of a contentious divorce; the Shahs make a group trip to the mountains, where they work to maintain their balance on the slopes.

On Sunday, February 9, 2020 at 9pm ET/PT, Bravo premiered the eighth season of SHAHS OF SUNSET. Returning for Season 8 are Destiney Rose, Golnesa "GG" Gharachedaghi, Mercedes "MJ" Javid, Mike Shouhed, Reza Farahan, and Nema Vand; they are joined by friend Sara Jeihooni for this season's wild antics and dramatic misadventures. Reza finds himself at a crossroad in his personal life when he discovers that he and his husband Adam might not be on the same page about a major life decision. To add to this, as rumors questioning the stability of their relationship begin to swirl, Reza is shocked to find that his best friend of 30 years might be the one to blame for the hearsay and his journey to uncover the truth changes everything. After nearly losing her life delivering her baby boy, Shams, Mercedes is left feeling abandoned by her friends who she claims did not visit her in the hospital. When the offended Reza decides to air his grievances on social media and takes it too far, Mercedes' husband Tommy does the unthinkable. Mike is on top of the world and convinced that he's found "the one" in his Persian-Jewish girlfriend, Paulina. Looking to prove to his family that his former bad-boy ways are behind him, he pursues a potential multi-million-dollar real estate deal solo despite his parents' reluctance to step back. A more mature Golnesa is finally ready to transition into the next phase of her life, and she embarks on a journey to become a mother via IVF. When a health complication threatens to derail her dream, she attempts to manifest good karma with those around her - but it proves difficult as she continues to clash with Mercedes. On the surface, Destiney is thriving in every aspect of her life: a growing business, healthy personal life and solid plans for her future. As she struggles to cope with her mother and sister moving out-of-state, she finds herself embroiled in a series of questionable circumstances that threaten her friendships within the group. Newly-single Nema is ready to mingle but finds it difficult to let go of his past with former girlfriend - and current colleague - Erica. While his relationship with his parents remains an ongoing struggle, Nema attempts to help Reza and MJ confront their issues and inadvertently causes a rift of his own. Reza's friend Sara is new to the group and though she attempts stay above the fray, she struggles to find her footing amongst the rambunctious crew. When skeletons from her past and issues with her family come to light, the poised image she tries so hard to maintain starts to crack. Season 8 stopped airing prematurely on Friday, May 1, 2020 at 9pm ET/PT on Bravo, because the COVID-19 pandemic shut down production early. The stay-at-home orders also delayed the Season 8 reunion.

Season 9 of SHAHS OF SUNSET premiered on Sunday, May 16, 2021 at 8pm ET/PT on Bravo, with Reza Farahan, Mercedes "MJ" Javid, Mike Shouhed, Golnesa "GG" Gharachedaghi, Destiney Rose, and Nema Vand returning. They are joined by friend London Laed. With the dust finally settling after last year's devastating fallout, Reza finds himself feeling ready to dip his toe in the water of reconciliation with his best friend of over 30 years, MJ. And while his relationship with husband Adam is stronger than ever, his friendship with his "brother" Mike is called into question when rumors about Mike's bad-boy behavior start to swirl. After a challenging year for MJ, she finds herself in yet another difficult situation trying to make amends with Reza who still has a restraining order against her husband, Tommy. Despite this, the two vow to begin the journey towards forgiveness in hopes of healing their friendship and bringing everyone back together again. Mike and his girlfriend Paulina's "perfect" relationship is put to the test when cracks in their union are revealed to the group. Landing himself in the hot seat, Mike ignites another scandal that both tests his own bond with Reza and threatens to break up Reza and GG's newly reformed friendship. After a long and difficult journey to motherhood, GG is thrilled to introduce her beautiful son Elijah to the world. She proves to be an unexpected unifier and voice of reason among her friends, helping them communicate their hurt feelings and hopefully let go of past grievances. The true test comes when she must apply this new perspective to her own friendship with MJ. Destiney moves out of her high-rise apartment and into an adorable house across the street from a very familiar face. Still reeling from the chaos of last year, she works to find peace with MJ as she strengthens her bonds with Reza and GG. When Paulina confides in Destiney about relationship issues with Mike, she finds herself entangled in yet another conflict. After Nema's business ventures were hit hard by the pandemic, he faces a crossroad when he is forced to make some difficult decisions. While his relationships with MJ and Mike remain stronger than ever, Nema navigates an uphill battle to repair his friendships with Reza, Destiney and GG in the hopes of bringing his "family" back together. MJ's new Persian friend London is a welcome breath of fresh air. As a life coach, London has the unique ability to help her newfound friends through difficult situations. When her strategies begin to wear thin, however, London is put to the ultimate test on a group trip where she needs to do more than dole out pep talks if she wants to keep up with the rambunctious crew.
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On Sunday, August 29, 2021 at 9pm ET/PT, Bravo premiered the finale of the two-part SHAHS OF SUNSET Season 9 reunion. Host Andy Cohen sits down with Reza Farahan, Mercedes "MJ" Javid, Mike Shouhed, Golnesa "GG" Gharachedaghi, Destiney Rose and Nema Vand to discuss the season. The group is also joined by Mike's girlfriend Paulina Ben-Cohen. Paulina tries to take ownership of the drama she caused amongst the friends; Reza drops a bomb that no one saw coming; Golnesa questions whether she and Mercedes might ever be friends again, while Mercedes and Reza have a heart-to-heart.