What is 'behenji'?

Ok this might sound like totally silly but having lived in the States for entire life, i had never come across someone getting hurt having been called "behenji". When I go to like some indian function, some people call some elder ladies as "behenji" but i guessed it was for respect.

But here i saw the expression on Tara's and other's faces while they called Saachi "behenji" and there was no respect kinda look and Saachi is not elder than them in any way.


So does "behenji" have another connotation in india? Like a derogatory one or something?😕
Why was Saachi hurt when they called her that?



btw...that "munni" gal was wearing traditional stuff too, then shouldn't she be called "munni behenji" as well?!😳

i think they call sedhi sadhi ladki a behenji..like sachi she wears saris sindoor bangels..

Exactly Amy it's not an offensive term or anything...it's used as respect for the elders like you say...

But I guess over the years....the connotation has changed a little...for a young woman like Saachi being called a behenji only because she has such traditional values like the older folk..i.e in the way she dresses and that she seemed a misfit in the disc....that is why it hurt her..that she was being treated as outcast..

when u say it to an old indian women its respect.. calling her w/ respect.. "like a sister.. " but when u say it lke they did its like ur teasing them.. u no like here u dont wanna be called a plain jane..

In the sense in which Tara used, the word "behenji" is used for those girls who wear traditional dress, and look old fashioned.

dude....so what?! so what if she's traditional and cultural, that doesn't mean that there's anything wrong in that, is there?
Is copying and showing off to be westernized everything?! Certainly not!

No matter however much one tries to adopt the "modern" dress and tactics...but if that person hold no good thoughts, then duh....that person is in no way considered "modern"! It is thoughts and outlook on life and people in general that marked the beginning of the modern era--the end of discrimination, colonization, as well the feminist movement and all that good stuff you know (hehehehe just had a class on all that 😆).

Tara claims to be an educated woman of today...or so i had believed her to be till now, but Daaaaaaang she's old minded in her thoughts and so are those other people as well.
In a profession like hers, the first thing that they are advised to be is being "non judgmental" and well......she is no where close to being that!


Sorry...may be I'm going way over board..lol😆 but hey this makes a good discussion topic, doesn't it?


P.S. I still have to watch the episode...hehhehehe will be back after that😆

Originally posted by: brainychild92

when u say it to an old indian women its respect.. calling her w/ respect.. "like a sister.. " but when u say it lke they did its like ur teasing them.. u no like here u dont wanna be called a plain jane..

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! now i get it! Thanks for translating it to the "American" version😆

you see me only 2 show old in indian telly world😆 that's why

dude....so what?! so what if she's traditional and cultural, that doesn't mean that there's anything wrong in that, is there?[/quote]

I guess some ppl consider it "un-cool" if someone wears saaris, mangalsutra and bangles...this the term "Behenji", which is supposed to mean that someone is traditional. I suppose over the years this term "Behenji" has been used to criticize or make fun of traditional ppl.

^^^ Geeeee akhl, you should write more, i'll be very glad to read it!

i noticed one thing, more than men calling Saachi "behenji", there were more women called her that!
Women indeed are each others worst enemies!

Saachi's traditionality and her respect for her own culture and customs is what makes her way way way modernistic than those girls who were dancing in the club such rude gestures and words towards another woman! Disgusting!🤢🤢🤢 that was really rude of them to actually lift her saari's free end and her earings in the beginning while she's walking in the club (I noticed it were women only who did that stuff.....totally and absofreakinlutely disgusting and weird.)