NYC mayor Zohran Mamdani pulls out Rajnigandha during interview, internet calls him ‘real Indian’

A light-hearted moment featuring New York City’s new mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has taken social media by storm. The 34-year-old Indian-origin politician was caught on camera casually pulling out a packet of Rajnigandha mouth freshener during a street interview in Brooklyn, leaving desi netizens both amused and delighted.

In the viral clip, filmed by content creator Nicolas Nuvan, Mamdani is seen stepping out of his SUV when asked if he had eaten. Smiling, he replies, “I did eat today,” before revealing a small packet of Rajnigandha silver pearls, saying, “I’ve also started having a lot of these… it’s like a mint.” He then offers some to Nuvan, who tries it and says it tastes “like perfume,” to which Mamdani quips, “Perfumes you can eat.”

Social media users couldn’t get enough of the moment. One user wrote, “No way he just ate Rajnigandha (South Asians will relate),” while another joked, “Muh mai Rajnigandha, kadmon mai duniya.” Many called the gesture the most “Indian thing” ever done by an American politician.

Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist, recently made history by becoming New York City’s first Muslim and youngest mayor in over a century. His candid personality and viral moments — from his Bollywood-inspired victory speech to this spontaneous Rajnigandha gesture — have made him an instant favorite among desi communities worldwide.