This article aims to obtain a set of erotic and gory pictures from the International Affective Picture System (IAPS) for use in studies across India. Additionally, it compares the ratings of a representative Indian sample with North American norms. Using the Self-assessment Manikin, adult Indian participants rated 72 arousal-matched IAPS pictures on emotional dimensions of arousal, valence and dominance. The ratings of the Indian and North American samples for valence were similar, but arousal and dominance ratings differed significantly. According to the valence–arousal relationship, the Indian sample’s emotional reactions to the unpleasant pictures compared to the pleasant ones were stronger. The Indian sample’s affective space of valence and arousal had a more curved and deeper boomerang pattern than the North American sample. The divergences in arousal and dominance ratings are attributed to cultural differences in interpreting affective information specific to erotic and gory pictures. Although there are marked similarities between the Indian and North American ratings, careful consideration of country-specific normative ratings is recommended for erotic and gory IAPS pictures.