Latest stories

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.

‘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.

Padma Lakshmi on ‘Taste the Nation’ Season 2: “To Eat is Political”

We chatted with the food writer and TV host about how American food is immigrant food, why she doesn’t care about what the 1% eats, and what’s next.

Reetika Vazirani, the Forgotten Poet We Should All Know

The Indian American was a pioneer of diasporic poetry. Twenty years after she took her son’s life and her own, few remember her brilliance.

Bikram Choudhury, the Sexual Predator Who Built a Yoga Empire

How a boy from Bengal founded Bikram Yoga and minted millions, only to abuse his students and escape justice.

Met Gala 2023: A Controversial Theme, with Few South Asians

Fashion’s most famous night featured a divisive, black-and-white theme. Its guest list of South Asians was even more limited.

Celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month: 2023

This May, a roundup of 15 stories that celebrate South Asian American life, love, culture, and history.

‘Ponniyin Selvan: II’ Review: Come for the Epic, Stay for the Twisted Love Story

Aishwarya Rai and Vikram take center stage in the second part of the Mani Ratnam magnum opus about the Chola dynasty.

‘Polite Society’ Celebrates Brown Female Rage

Director Nida Manzoor and actors Ritu Arya and Priya Kansara share how they pulled off the hilarious ‘Get Out’-esque action comedy that dismantles South Asian tropes.

How Steve Jobs’s Trip to India Helped Create Apple

The tech legend’s search for spiritual enlightenment in 1974 honed his intuition and sowed the seeds for the most valuable public company in the world.

Badminton’s Grand Comeback

In India, a country where cricket is a religion, the racquet sport is becoming a booming business.

How Ferrero Rocher Melted South Asian Hearts

And why the significance of the once gold standard of gifting is no longer the same.

‘Indian Matchmaking’ Season 3 Tries But Fails to Modernize

It’s time to swipe left on the reality series that has yet to result in a single marriage and few successful matches.

Sima Aunty from ‘Indian Matchmaking’ Has Had Enough

For the Mumbai matchmaker and reality television star, today’s youth are too picky, too impatient, and too confused.

How Horlicks, Bournvita, and Complan Took Over India

World War I, celebrity ads, and scare tactics ensured that a Western concoction became a mainstay for the subcontinent and its diaspora.

Saravana Bhavan: Dosa, With a Side of Murder

Around 20 years ago, a Chennai court convicted the infamous restaurant chain’s founder of murder. What happened next was equally surprising.

Salim-Javed: Strugglers, Screenwriters, Superstars

The story of Bollywood’s most successful writing duo is as masala-filled as the groundbreaking cinema they created.

How Gaurav Gupta Won the Red Carpet

It took years for the world to notice the Indian fashion designer. Now, stars from Cardi B to Aishwarya Rai turn to him when they want to make a statement.