An Australian woman has captured the attention of the internet with her candid observations on India's dating culture. Bree Steele, a podcast producer, has been travelling across India since 2023, documenting her experiences and thoughts on how dating here differs from her home country, Australia.
In one of her viral Instagram videos, Ms Steele talks about the stark contrasts she has observed. “In Australia, men flirt through banter, which is really just being mean,” she explained. “But in India, everyone is so nice to you, and things move fast! I was at a party, and this guy suddenly held my hand while flirting. That would never happen in Australia!”
Ms Steele also attended a dating event in Mumbai, describing it as a unique experience. “It felt like a school disco,” she recalled. “For the first hour or so, women only spoke to other women, and men did the same. No one was mixing.” The awkward start aside, she found the experience reflective of how dating might still be a relatively new concept in India.
Ms Steele noted the dating scene in India seems heavily influenced by Bollywood, with many people behaving as if they were following a script from the movies. “It feels like everyone here is acting based on what they've seen in films,” she remarked. “My understanding is that our generation of Indians are the first in history who can date casually. Until now, it seems to have been mostly arranged marriages.”
She went on to compare the cultural backdrop of dating between the two countries. “In the West, we've had dating stories passed down through generations, plus sex education in schools. In India, that doesn't seem to be the case, so people might be shaping their dating behaviour from what they see on screen.”
"Your theory is spot on Bree!," a user commented.
Someone wrote, "I wanna know more about it, how about we discuss it over dinner *smirks*."
"You haven't tried old-school dating. It would change your perception! Glad to know that you're not disappointed at that dating event," a comment read.
Another user wrote, "One positive review of a dating event. I'll take it."
Bree Steele said the experience was definitely different, and that's what makes it exciting.
Featured Video Of The Day
"Criticised Virat Kohli In T20 World Cup Final": Sanjay Manjrekar Faces Ire For Defending Harmanpreet Kaur And Co 10 Bollywood-Famous Destinations That Will Make You Want To Book a Ticket Right Now Can India Can Beat Any Side In The World? Ex-Star Says "Don't Need Pitches Like..." India To Withdraw High Commissioner From Canada In Massive Escalation Of Row Lawrence Bishnoi Has 700 Shooters On Call. How He Operates From Jail Australian Woman Breaks Down Her Dating Experience In India Niira Radia Recounts When Ratan Tata's Dog Went Missing On Marine Drive CBSE Board Exams 2025: 75% Attendance Mandatory For Class 10, 12 Students Woman Who Did Not Get Farewell Card Loses UK Employment Claim Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.