Cinema flows like blood in an Indian’s veins. It has always been more than just a form of entertainment; dictating what we wear, how we speak, and even what we eat. Delhi, a city where history and pop culture converge into daily life, has always been a playground of trends. The latest chapter is the mega success of the sky thriller, Dhurandhar (yes, both one and two!). While the film gripped the audience with its high-stakes espionage, it was a humble, fizzy glass of doodh soda that stole the show for us. And while the Delhi streets are back to selling this forgotten summer classic, KPH The Refreshment Point has been delivering them for 71 years now.
“Darling, darling, dil kyun toda. Peelo peelo, Aalam soda“
In the film, Gaurav Gera’s character, Mohammad Aalam, runs a juice shop in Lyari, Pakistan, famously jingling the above lines. While it served as an encrypted message within the storyline to Hamza, it also reignited the nostalgia associated with doodh soda. This pre-partitioned drink was a classic in Northern India and Pakistan, making a quiet comeback every Ramzan. Yet, the film’s virality has pushed it to the forefront.
Made by mixing chilled milk with carbonated soda lime Sprite or 7Up, sweetened with sugar and plenty of ice. Sometimes, you would find it flavoured with rose syrup, fruit essence, and even coffee. And the result? A delightfully light, fizzy, and refreshing cooler with an instant reset in the Delhi heat.
KPH The Refreshment Point in Nangia Park
While the film made it viral, shops like KPH The Refreshment Point, a humble little shop near Nangia Park, have been keeping the tradition alive for decades. Established in 1955, this family-run landmark has been a go-to for doodh soda. Started by Roshanlal Budhiraja, the shop is currently run by Virender Budhiraja and sells a collective memory of the city: doodh soda.
As the years have passed, KPH has expanded its classic doodh soda to include delightful varieties, including tutti frutti, rose, pineapple, and even the contemporary flavour of cold coffee. However, if you’d like a recommendation, then their pineapple doodh soda remains a crowd favourite. If you’d like a taste of Dhurandher’s special Aalam doodh soda, take a sip of their rose-flavoured one. They are also well known for their mint lemonade cooler on the peak afternoons. Moreover, doodh soda is also sold in air-tight glass bottles that can be bought in bulk if you want to take it home.
According to Virender, this refreshing drink is perfect in the summer heat, especially after a heavy meal. In the age of virality today, modest shops like KPH truly stand the test of time, serving authenticity one glass at a time.
Key Information
🕒 1:30 PM to 10 PM
💸 ₹ 30/- onwards
📍KPH Refreshment point, Nangia Park, Shakti Nagar, New Delhi
