Latest stories

‘Dil Chahta Hai’: Friendship is Really That Important

Farhan Akhtar on the film that changed Bollywood, the friends who inspired it, and where he imagines Akash, Sid, and Sameer 25 years later.

Why India Forgot the Other Koh-i-Noors

One diamond became a symbol of British colonialism. But priceless other jewels ended up somewhere else entirely.

Before ‘Best of the Best,’ There Was Best of the Best

Exclusive: We spoke to director Lena Khan and the dancers behind the real championship that might have inspired the Netflix film.

Why Do Beautiful Women of Color Keep Dating Down?

The internet loves asking how he got her. The better question is why beauty and success still don’t give her more power.

Chirayu Rana is Back — With a New Case

Our exclusive interview might hold some clues to why the former JPMorgan banker just filed a new federal lawsuit.

How ‘Omkara’ Fixed Shakespeare’s ‘Othello’

Vishal Bhardwaj’s 2006 adaptation reveals what the bard’s weakest play was missing.

When Indonesia Was Hindu

Hindu kings once ruled the world’s largest archipelago. Why did they disappear?

The Making of an Indian Pop Girl

Charli XCX, Tyla, and Lara Raj have conquered global music. Why did it take so long to see them at the top?

Was Aangad Singh Robbed of a $250,000 Civics Prize?

Two controversial rulings may have changed the outcome of America’s first national civics competition. We investigated what happened.

India’s Students Want More Than Fair Exams

The NEET exam leak ignited a movement. It doesn’t fully explain the rage.

‘Yaadein’ is So Bad, It’s Good

Twenty-five years later, Bollywood’s most unhinged flop — and the first to pair Hrithik and Kareena — deserves another look.

India Mastered Outsourcing. AI is a Different Test.

The country built a global empire and created millions of jobs by doing work others didn’t want to do. What happens when AI can do it, too?

The Internet’s Latest Mama’s Boy Wants to Set the Record Straight

Exclusive: The Ultimatum’s Jebin John went viral for saying his wife should be like his “new mom.” He told us what everyone got wrong.

‘The Odyssey’: The Most Compelling Hero Isn’t Odysseus

Himesh Patel’s Eurylochus believes in his king long after everyone else loses faith — and pays the ultimate price.

Shut Up About The Odyssey’s Casting Already

Himesh Patel as Eurylochus. Lupita Nyong’o as Helen. Zendaya as Athena. Here’s why Homer wouldn’t care.

The Odyssey and the Ramayana: The Comparison That Won’t Die

Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster revives a centuries-old question: are the two epics related?

Did This Indian Woman Really Carry a Colonial Officer?

One viral photo from around 1903 has fueled outrage for years. But the real story is stranger than you think.

She’s Moving to Afghanistan. The Internet is Horrified.

A Snapchat romance, denied visas, and millions of TikTok views later, one question remains: why?

Pehravni: When Grandpa Dresses as a Bride

The Marwari wedding tradition is older than anyone can remember. The reason for it hasn’t quite satisfied anyone.

Can ‘Heightmaxxing’ Outsmart Your ‘Famine Genes’?

For some South Asian men, getting taller is now the ultimate status symbol — and even a way to correct a historical wrong.