A fruit vendor in Hyderabad has sparked laughter and disbelief by trying to charge a Scottish tourist Rs 100 for a single banana. The incident was captured on video and shared by tourist Hugh on Instagram and has since gone viral, garnering more than 6 million views.
Exploring India and documenting his street food experiences, Hugh meets the banana vendor while wandering through the vibrant local market. Having sampled a variety of Indian dishes such as vada pav, pav bhaji and jalebis, Hugh was faced with an unusual price for a banana.
In the video, Hugh repeatedly asks the seller about the price, only to receive the same startled response: ₹100. Realizing that he was being overcharged, he eventually decided to leave without making a purchase.
Hugh then explains how the price of a banana asked by the vendor was also much higher than the price in the UK. He says that the seller sold one banana for 100 rupees i.e. 1 pound. “People in the UK can get 8 bananas for that price.”
The humorous exchange resonated with viewers, generating a range of comments, from jokes about pricing to expressions of sympathy for the tourist. One commenter quipped, “Bro is trying to restore the Indian economy,” while another joked, “He's added GST (Gora Seva Tax).
Another user commented, “After looking at you 😂 their prices go up 😂.”
Many traders welcomed Hugh warmly and offered him reasonable prices, and this particular incident highlights the occasional attempts to extort money from tourists. The video serves as a vivid reminder of street shopping in India.