Indian Man Reacts To 'Rs 7,200 Per Kg' Bhindi In US Store Sold As 'Premium Snack'

An Indian man's grocery trip in the US turned into a viral moment after he checked the price of bhindi, or okra, and converted it into Indian Rupees. In a video shared on Instagram by creator Ashish Ahuja, he showed a premium bag of seasoned, crispy-fried okra priced at $6.50 (roughly Rs 40) for just 85 grammes at an American supermarket. He then calculated that buying a full kilogram of the snack would cost an astonishing Rs 7,250, a sharp contrast to prices back home, where okra is consumed as a cheap, everyday sabzi.

The video points out that the immense price hike comes down to presentation, as instead of being sold raw, the okra is fried or baked, spiced, packed into a small bag, and marketed as a "premium snack". Joking about the extreme markup compared to a standard $2.50 large bag of Lays, the creator noted in his caption that it felt like "okra charging you a personality tax."

"We grow up eating bhindi as a basic everyday vegetable. In India, it's just another sabzi. But in America, they fry it, pack it in a small bag, and suddenly it's a premium snack on the shelf. 85 grams for $6.50," he wrote as the caption of the video.

"More expensive than Lays."

"That's okra charging you a personality tax. Nobody told bhindi it could do this."

Watch the video here:

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A post shared by Ashish Ahuja | Indian in the US 🇺🇸 (No filters) (@ashishahuja.usa)

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"So guys, let me show you something really interesting. Look, what is this? Now, bhindi (ladyfinger or okra) that we use to make vegetable dishes in India, in America, look, that same thing is available as a snack. I mean, properly fried, with spices and everything on it. And check out its price once. How much is it? It's $6.50 USD. Meaning in Indian Rupees, it's around Rs 600. And what is the quantity? Just 85 grams," he said in the video.

The clip, which had more than 248,000 views and over 3,500 likes, highlights the steep markup on many Indian vegetables in US stores, where they're sold as special produce. Limited supply, import costs, and smaller demand drive prices up compared to India, where okra is a common, inexpensive staple.

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Social media reactions

Viewers reacted with a mix of shock and amusement, noting how everyday vegetables become luxury items abroad.

"It is not costly for Americans because their income is high and it's healthy," one user wrote in the comment section.

"With those masalas max 20. Even the rich here won't buy beyond that," another user added.

A third user jokingly suggested starting an "import and export business"