"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."
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. "Masala chai doesn't even look like that!"
One particularly jarring aspect for Indian viewers was the Sharma family's inconsistent use of languages. They used words like "didi" (Hindi for sister), "bon" (Bengali for sister), and "appa" (Tamil for father), creating a confusing linguistic mix that didn't correspond to any specific region in India.
"It's like they wanted to represent all of India at once, but ended up creating a family that doesn't exist anywhere," one viewer remarked.
Perhaps the biggest criticism leveled at Bridgerton is its complete avoidance of the complex historical context surrounding race and colonialism during the Regency era. The Sharma sisters, despite their Indian heritage, seamlessly integrate into British high society, encountering no prejudice or discrimination.
"It's a fantasy, I get it," wrote one academic on Twitter. "But to erase the reality of colonialism and its lasting impact on both Britain and India feels irresponsible."
Ironically, some of the show's attempts to portray Indian culture felt outdated, echoing tropes that Bollywood itself is trying to move away from. The whirlwind romance based on instant attraction, the obsession with marriage, and even the magical bangle that only fits the heroine's true love, all felt like recycled clichés.
“It’s amusing to see a Western show using tropes that Bollywood is leaving behind,” one Indian commentator noted. “We're moving beyond those stereotypes.”
Despite the criticisms, many members of the Indian diaspora welcomed the representation offered by the Sharma sisters. Seeing dark-skinned Indian women as the romantic leads in a popular period drama was a significant step forward.
"It's about time we saw ourselves reflected in these stories," one Indian-American viewer shared on Facebook. "It's not perfect, but it's a start."
While Bridgerton's attempt to include Indian characters is commendable, the execution fell short. The show relied on superficial stereotypes and ignored the historical realities of race and colonialism, ultimately creating a representation that felt both inaccurate and incomplete.
Bridgerton had the potential to offer a nuanced and authentic portrayal of Indian culture, but it missed the mark. Hopefully, future attempts at cross-cultural representation will learn from these mistakes and strive for a more balanced and truthful approach.
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