"Bridgerton," Netflix's wildly popular Regency-era romance, returned for a second season with a splash, introducing the Sharma sisters, Kate and Edwina, as the new love interests. The casting of British-Indian actors Simone Ashley and Charithra Chandran was met with excitement by the Indian diaspora, eager to see themselves reflected on screen. But back in India, the reaction was more mixed, with many viewers criticizing the show's clumsy attempts to represent Indian culture.
The show sprinkled in a variety of Indian references, from the mention of celebrated Urdu poet Mirza Ghalib to a scene of Kate brewing masala chai. There were ornate bangles, embroidered fabrics, and even a dramatic musical cue from the Bollywood blockbuster "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.
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While these touches were intended to add authenticity, they often felt superficial and stereotypical, leaving Indian viewers feeling like the show was ticking boxes rather than offering genuine representation.
"It's like they googled 'Indian things' and threw it all into a blender," one Indian viewer commented on Twitter.
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