The third annual South Asian Excellence pre-Oscars party took place at the Paramount lot and attracted a star-studded crowd, setting the stage for the glitz and glamor of Hollywood’s most renowned event, the Oscars. Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Ali Sethi, Kal Penn, Lilly Singh, Rupi Kaur, Richa Moorjani, Hannah Simone, Karan Soni, and Tan France were among the well-known figures adorning the red carpet at the event.
The evening’s high point was when renowned director and activist Tara Strong remarked a carousel image on her Instagram page that perfectly encapsulated South Asian presence at the Oscars. “Celebrating South Asian Nominees at the Oscars this year!” she said in her post, expressing her happiness at the chance to honor the candidates who are South Asian. Every year, this is a wonderful occasion. I’m so happy we can finally stand up for our relatives!
In one, the director is seen posing with the Pasoori singer, while in another, she shares a group photo of all the well-known South Asian celebrities there.
In a stunning costume created by Pakistani designer Hussain Rehar, Sharmeen enthralled the audience. The outfit, called Star Gaze from Rehar’s Jugnu Lahore collection, was made up of a high-waisted star spray-embroidered skirt and a beige karandi jacket with detailed embroidery.
In addition to thanking the hosts, the director expressed her gratitude to the well-known designer. “We are grateful to Anita and Shruti for organizing our group! She concluded her Instagram post by saying, “Thank you Hussain Rehar for the designs and Alizeh Pasha for the inspiration.”
In addition to honoring South Asian talent’s accomplishments in the film business, the pre-Oscars celebration provided a forum for promoting community support and harmony. Prior to the Oscars 2023 in Los Angeles, Priyanka Chopra, Mindy Kaling, and Paramount Pictures threw a party last year.
Apart from Sharmeen, several other Pakistani celebrities attended the pre-Oscars party, including as singer Ali Sethi, actor-director Riz Ahmed, Alina Khan, campaigner Malala with her husband Asser Malik, and members of the Joyland crew Saim Sadiq.
On his Instagram Story, Asser shared a photo from the celebration that featured the “Pakistani gang,” which also included Tan France, Maheen Khan, Rasti Farooq, and Ali Junejo.
At the celebration, Sharmeen also posed for pictures with actors Zenobia Shroff and Saagar Sheikh in a mini-Ms. Marvel reunion.
I am a dedicated student currently in my seventh semester, pursuing a degree in International Relations. Alongside my academic pursuits, I am actively engaged in the professional field as a content writer at the Rangeinn website.