Dank Desi Memes
The reaction image of this actor, mouth agape and eyes wide, is frequently used to express disbelief or sudden realization (often from Hera Pheri).
Paresh Rawal
The single most requested, non-refundable item any Canadian Desi is asked to bring back from India by family members.
Masalas
This major, problematic trend in 90s Bollywood involved the hero constantly stalking and harassing the heroine until she finally "agreed" to fall in love.
Stalking as Romance
The exact, single phrase you use to deflect the inevitable question about your career salary from a curious Aunty.
Bas, God ki Meher hai" (Just God's grace)
This powerful spice, derived from a root, is a central ingredient in most South Indian curries but is usually avoided by Jain communities.
Ginger
This famous dialogue, delivered by Nana Patekar in Welcome, is the universal Desi uncle's response when asked if he wants a second serving of food.
Control, Uday, Control!
This common word, used by immigrant parents to describe any type of formal or important paperwork, whether it's tax returns or a letter from school.
Kagaz (Paperwork)
Before becoming a megastar, this famous actor was known for playing the villain, most famously as a psychotic lover in the 1993 film Baazigar.
Shah Rukh Khan
This specific Canadian university is considered the gold standard for bragging rights in the Greater Toronto Area, often prioritized over any other school.
University of Toronto
This term refers to the process of quickly frying spices in hot oil or ghee at the beginning of cooking to release their flavors and is essential for most curries.
Tadka (or Baghaar)
The viral dance step where the dancer rapidly shakes their hips while keeping their torso rigid, popularized by TikTokers and originating from a South Indian film, is known as the "___ Step."
Jiggle Step (or Wiggle Step)
The precise, specific temperature in Brampton or Surrey at which Dad declares it's "too hot" and turns on the AC, regardless of what the thermostat actually says.
25°C
This specific plot device was used in nearly every 70s and 80s film to separate siblings or parents and children, usually involving a fair or a dramatic accident
Kumbh Mela
The precise number of times an Aunty will insist you stay and eat more, even after you've firmly declined and are standing at the door.
3 times, or Until you give in.
The small, highly aromatic black seeds used to flavor naan, parathas, and some pickles, often mistaken for black sesame seeds.
Kalonji
This term, often used to describe cringe-worthy or overly dramatic soap opera moments, has become a meme itself and is derived from a famous dialogue by a TV character named Kokila.
Rashi" (referencing the infamous "Rasode mein kaun tha?" scene
The mandatory Canadian store you must visit before flying to India to buy expensive, brightly coloured sweaters for every single cousin who requests them.
Winners/Marshalls (or Costco)?
The character who delivered the famous line, "Mere Paas Maa Hai," in the 1975 film Deewaar.
Shashi Kapoor
The professional qualification that beats out almost all others (including Engineering and MBA) in terms of bragging rights for a prospective marriage alliance.
Doctor (MBBS/MD)
The exact, traditional vessel (often a heavy, round iron dish) used in the North Indian method of slowly stirring and reducing milk to make rabri or kheer
Karahi
The meme where a person is lying on a bed with an angry stare, used to symbolize the anxiety of a minor inconvenience (e.g., forgetting the chai is boiling), features this popular South Asian comic/actor.
Zakir Khan
The one skill you never perfected in your parents' kitchen that they insist is the only way to get the roti perfectly round.
Rolling the dough with the "belan" (rolling pin)?
The 2017 film, directed by Advait Chandan, that was praised for its feminist themes but sparked debate for casting an older male star as a romantic lead opposite a much younger actress
What is Secret Superstar (starring Aamir Khan and Zaira Wasim)?
The subtle, yet devastating, technique used by an Aunty to criticize another Aunty's sari by complimenting it with a phrase that implies it is old or out-of-date
This is so classic" (or "I remember when these were in fashion")
The bitter, brown, lentil-shaped spice derived from a perennial plant, used sparingly for its strong, medicinal flavor in curries like Methi Malai Paneer
Methi