Rekha, Mother of Bollywood Queer Icons
The Hindi film industry painted the actor as a vamp and the other woman. Yet she emerged as a flag-bearer for self-love and queer self-expression.
Mehr Singh
The Tesla Cliff Crash is Yet Another Cry for Help
In January, Dharmesh Patel tried to kill himself and his family. The tragedy unveils glaring gaps in mental health resources for South Asian men.
Dev Shah is the 2023 National Spelling Bee Champion
The 14-year-old won $50,000 and the coveted trophy. His winning word was “psammophile.”
Snigdha Sur
Celebrating Pride Month: 2023
This June, dive into 15 stories about queer South Asian history, icons, and culture.
The Juggernaut
Does Yale Discriminate Against Asian Americans?
Eleven Asian American students looked at their admissions files. They were surprised by what they found.
Sanchita Kedia
7-Eleven and South Asians, An American Success Story
The franchise became both the lifeline of new immigrants — who own as many as 70% of 7-Elevens in the U.S. — and the punchline of racist jokes.
How Diipa Büller-Khosla Got to Cannes — And Brought Her Brand
She was the first Indian-born influencer invited to the exclusive event. The indē wild founder is now bringing more Indian women with her.
The Motel Patels Built Empires. For Younger Generations, It’s Complicated.
Gujarati Americans own over 60% of America’s motels. But, for some, joining the family business is too close to home.
The Celebrity Airport Photo: Candid or Contrived?
For Bollywood paparazzi, capturing stars come and go is less about good timing than you think.
Nidhi Gupta
With No Towers of Silence in the West, Zoroastrian Last Rites are a Fraught Affair
The West has no structures or legal precedent for corpses to decay in the open air. For those wishing to follow traditions, funerals are a compromise.
Nevin Kallepalli
How Cruises Became South Asian Getaways
Bollywood and value for money ignited our wanderlust. Now, those approaching retirement and seeking comfort are some of the industry’s newest patrons.
Is the Bollywood Song Dead?
Indian music is seeing a significant shift from film songs to those of independent artists. For some, it’s about time. For others, it’s an existential threat.
Ashritha Karuturi
How Shan Masala Spiced Up Diaspora Tables
Despite competition and import bans, the Pakistani venture built a global, $250 million business whose fans swear by its innovative spice blends.
Zarna Garg, the Indian Mom Making the World Laugh
The comedian known for her viral mom jokes is now out with her first hour-long special — and she isn’t afraid to offend you.
How Singer Set South Asian Women Up For Success
The American sewing machine had a slow start in the Indian subcontinent. Today, it has changed women’s finances, and futures, forever.
‘Jubilee’ Review: A Dazzling Homage to the Dawn of Hindi Cinema
Vikramaditya Motwane’s ambitious series explores the style and scandal of Bollywood in post-Partition and post-Independence India.
Meher Manda
How Kumon Bred Persistence and Panic Among South Asians
The after-school program was a fixture for the South Asian diaspora. But, after peaking in the 2000s, does it now hold the same draw?
Hanif Kureishi is Inspiring Optimism — From a Hospital Bed
The British Pakistani writer of ‘My Beautiful Laundrette’ fame became paralyzed in 2022. His Twitter dispatches are now a symbol of hope.
Sadaf Ahsan
‘Piku’ Reminds Us Not To Take Sh*t from the Patriarchy
The 2015 film about a widower obsessed with his bowel movements and his headstrong daughter shows us why we shouldn’t care about what society demands of us.
Haleem, Now Available Near You
For many, the meat-and-pulse stew is a rare, Ramadan tradition. Now, chefs are bringing it, along with inventive modifications, to the masses.