Why India's Fair Skin Business Is Booming | VICE on HBO

Unfortunately, it's the same old, same old - everyone wants to look like everyone else, and India is no exception...

India is home to Bollywood, the world's most prolific movie industry. For those who dream of stardom, landing a leading role may depend on the color of your skin. India's preference for fair skin has given rise to a skin-lightening industry worth nearly $500 million dollars.

VICE's Gianna Toboni heads to Mumbai to find out how this cultural bias is fueling the booming business of fairer skin.

VICE News

New Delhi Street Food Stall Serves Snacks On Fire

Enquiring minds want to know what kind of wizardry is taking place here...

SOME people like their street food hot, but this paan stall in New Delhi is taking things to to the next level - by setting it on fire. Pradhuman Shukla's family has owned a food stall selling paan in Delhi, India for 20 years and they're changing the paan game. Paan comprises a betel leaf stuffed with areca nut and occasionally tobacco and is chewed as a stimulant and then spat out or swallowed. But Pradhuman, 31, has reinvented the traditional Indian snack and has been attracting hundreds of brave customers by lighting the paan on fire and forcing it into their mouths.

Barcroft TV

Badass Female Biker Challenges Gender Stereotypes In India

Breaking gender stereotypes in India - one badass woman at a time...

A YOUNG woman is challenging gender stereotypes in India by riding the streets of New Delhi on a motorbike. Roshni Misbah has been turning heads as she speeds past on her CBR Repsol and Royal Enfield bikes wearing a leather jacket, high heels and a headscarf. Riding a motorbike isn’t the regular mode of transport for women in India, but Roshni has had a passion for motorbikes since a young age - and she wants to encourage a more female riding culture.

Barcroft TV