I'm half Indian and with a lot of Indian friends. I've noticed that a lot of them have this problem, regardless of how they look. It's hard to put my finger on exactly what it is, but I think in a large way it does come down to cultural differences (even growing up here in the States, you still primarily learn habits, linguistics, etc. from parents).

I've had something like 15 cousins in India who have come to visit me. Even the ones who do well with women out there are horrible at it here. Out of my whole family, me and two cousins in the states are the only ones who have an active sex life. Even then, I'm really not great at approach, or any good at all unless I meet a woman through friends or in social situations (i.e. I don't approach women at school and hook up).

In any case, I have thought about what it is that's different about me vs. my Indian friends and cousins, and there are a few things I speculate are relevant. And just a warning, this is a little long, and while it comes off as bragging, I don't mean it like that, I just want to give you the best data possible. Also, none of it may apply to you, I'm just sharing my observations and experiences being in my early 30s and having a similar cultural background.

Anyway.

For one, I'm very outgoing and I project confidence and a bit of arrogance (not on purpose, I just study a lot and so even if I don't know what I'm talking about, I think I do until I'm corrected). I have my opinions and I'm a decent public speaker, so it's not difficult to keep a conversation going for me. This is my favorite time because I'm super into politics and it's a great topic to bring up with a girl at a bar. If she cares about politics we can either agree or debate, and if she doesn't then I can do most of the talking and come off interesting (or possibly annoying but I'm not into anyone that politics would annoy anyway). "Did you watch the debate last week?" Those conversations last hours and always bank future dates.

In contrast, my Indian friends are soft spoken and reserved. My best friend barely started coming out of his shell as he started law school, but before that he would barely talk to anyone besides me. I guess mock trial and whatnot gave him a public speaking boost.

Secondly, I have a sarcastic and deadpan sense of humor. Some people don't get it and that's fine, but the ones who do love it. In contrast, my Indian friends don't tend to make a lot of jokes, and especially not if it could be construed as being at the expense of someone they're interested in.

So for example, a girl in one of my classes has been flirtatious lately. I have a hand problem so I type out my tests instead of writing them. When she sees my typed test, she asks why and I say "Well, it's because I'm a better person than you." It's absurd, and I'm obviously joking, and she eats it up, punches me in the arm and we go out for drinks after class. Where did I learn that? On the playground, where you tease girls you like.

Thirdly, I know how to dress and I have my own style. I'm usually in a casual button down shirt, a nice pair of jeans, brown loafers, and if it's chilly, a suit jacket. My dad is a restaurateur and that's how he dressed, so I followed his example.

In contrast, my Indian friends stick to boring (think Walmart light blue) jeans, or khakis, and either a t-shirt or a polo. They look like everyone else. It's perfectly neutral in every way.

And lastly, and this applies I think in general not just a cultural thing: if it doesn't work out with someone, I don't care. If I meet an amazing woman and she's not interested in me, I friendzone her in my head and move on (romantically). Some of my best friends are women I've either dated or had a thing for but who didn't reciprocate. I cultivate these friendships because if someone is amazing enough to date, then they're surely amazing enough to be my friends. And so I never think, "oh I better not come off as such and such or else she won't like me." I'm just me. There's nothing attractive about a guy or girl who eats up every word you say and who isn't themselves because they're trying to impress you.

My Indian friends, in contrast, talk to so few women that when they do it's like, "Oh shit I better not fuck this up" and so they try not to be disagreeable or they simply project inner insecurity.

So, I hope that any of the above might help you, though I really have no idea who you are or how relevant it would be. If it happens to not have been relevant at all, well then sorry for wasting your time reading this ridiculously long post, and good luck either way.