Negotiating is a completely normal, genuinely expected part of many transactions in India, from rent to larger purchases, and it is worth reframing it clearly in your own mind as simply asking a reasonable question rather than as some kind of confrontation, since that mental shift alone removes most of the awkwardness people feel around it.
Do a little research beforehand on the typical price range for whatever you are negotiating, whether that is rent in a particular area or the going rate for a specific product, since a number grounded in genuine research gives you real, calm confidence rather than just an uncertain guess pulled out of thin air. Ask calmly and directly, something as simple as is there any flexibility on the price or can we work something out on the rent, rather than staying silent and simply assuming there is no room to move, since the worst realistic outcome of asking is a simple no, which costs you genuinely nothing to hear and leaves you exactly where you started.
Be willing to walk away, or at least to take some time to think it over, since a genuine willingness not to close the deal immediately is very often exactly what gives you real negotiating leverage in the first place, far more than any particular phrase or technique does. Stay polite and reasonable throughout the entire exchange, since a respectful, calm negotiation is consistently far more effective than an aggressive or pushy one, and it also preserves the relationship well, whether you land the deal right now or end up coming back to it again later.
Example: A student negotiating rent on a new flat researched the going rate in the area beforehand, calmly asked the landlord if there was any flexibility, and was willing to consider another option if the answer was no, which ultimately got them a modest but genuine reduction they would not have received had they simply accepted the first number quoted.
One practical tip: Do a little research on the typical price range beforehand, then simply ask calmly and directly whether there is any flexibility, since the worst realistic outcome is a plain no, which costs you nothing, while staying silent guarantees you never find out.