India has seen a sharp rise in mobile internet penetration and cheap data plans. Alongside positive growth, there has been an explosion of “masala” content – much of it misogynistic, non-consensual, or filmed without permission. The “bhabhi” trope is particularly insidious because it uses a family relation to create false intimacy.

Spirituality is seamlessly woven into the morning. A family member will light an oil lamp or incense at the home altar ( mandir ), filling the house with the scent of sandalwood. The whistling of a pressure cooker soon follows, signaling the preparation of fresh breakfast and school lunches. The Afternoon Hustle