Latest stories

How ‘Ms. Marvel’ Put Partition on Screen

We spoke to the team behind the show’s episode on Partition — a historical event seminal to South Asians, yet rarely depicted in Hollywood.

How Hare Krishnas Took Over the World

The unlikely story of an Indian missionary who landed in 1960s New York City and sparked a contentious global movement.

How Puberty Ceremonies Went the Way of Indian Weddings

South Asian coming-of-age events are becoming extravagant, multi-day affairs, complete with a major — and some argue, unnecessary — price tag.

Crying Along With ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’

How the beloved 2011 Bollywood movie turned a bachelor party into a sensitive portrayal of masculinity.

How the Rajapaksas Lost Sri Lanka

The family held positions in the island nation’s government for 15 years but are now ousted and on the run.

Pramila Jayapal: “You Are Absolutely Right to be Terrified”

The U.S. Congress member shares her experience with abortion and the path forward to securing abortion rights in a post-Roe United States.

Emmys 2022: Notable South Asian Nominees

More than a dozen shows featuring South Asians — from ‘Ted Lasso’ to ‘Queer Eye’ to ‘Station Eleven’ – earned Emmy nods for excellence in television.

The Opulence and Arrogance of ‘Devdas’

Why did we love the Sanjay Leela Bhansali magnum opus with massive sets, expensive costumes, and overacting galore? We revisit the film on its 20th anniversary.

Is South Asian Bridal Makeup Too Expensive?

TikTok has been aflutter with brides sharing what they believe to be “the biggest scam” in the wedding industry.

The Truth About Sex-Selective Abortion and South Asian Americans

How a 2008 paper sparked a pervasive myth about Indian and Chinese Americans.

How Bhut Jolokia, the Ghost Pepper, Took Over the West

Dubbed the hottest pepper in the world in 2007, the unique northeastern Indian chili became a tempting challenge for Western palates. But what got lost in the process?

The Unibrow is Back

Young South Asians are rebelling against Western beauty standards by growing out their eyebrows.

How Bollywood Fashion Went From DIY to Designer

Hindi films have long been a source of fashion inspo, but stylists — from Manish Malhotra and Sabyasachi to Arjun Bhasin and Anaita Shroff Adajania — have changed the game both on- and off-screen.

Why South Asian Americans Overwhelmingly Support Abortion

Despite not openly talking about it, many South Asians are pro-choice. We dig into why and their reactions to the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

What Mohammed Zubair’s Arrest Means for Press Freedom

The arrest of the co-founder of an Indian fact-checking website is the latest incident in declining press freedom in the subcontinent.

The Evolution of the Bollywood Item Song

By definition, these dance numbers objectify women, but — in the hands of directors like Farah Khan or choreographers like Helen — they allow for an otherwise rare expression of women’s sexuality.

Freida Pinto Wants to Change Who is “Allowed” to Fall in Love On Screen

The ‘Mr. Malcolm’s List’ actor chats about Black and Brown love, what’s on her relationship checklist, and how Hollywood has diversified since ‘Slumdog.’

Why South Asians Often Have Multiple Birthdays

Sure, two birthdays means double the cake, but for some, it’s also a reminder of a turbulent past.

Sri Lanka: The Reality of Mealtime in the Midst of Economic Collapse

The island nation’s worst economic crisis since its 1948 independence has forced people to change how and what they eat.

Nik Dodani is Making Hollywood His Own

Luck helped the actor and writer, known for ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ and ‘Atypical,’ break into Hollywood. But he’s not leaving the rest up to chance.