Pakistani celebrities have made it to the Eastern Eye’s Top 50 Asian Celebrities of the World in 2020, including Sarwat Gilani, Bilal Abbas Khan, Ali Zafar and Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy.
Whereas Iman Vellani, the newcomer who will play Ms Marvel in the forthcoming Marvel superhero series, has also made it to the list.
The article has a countdown of global Asian stars who smashed down glass walls to create a meaningful difference in culture, and that seems to have been achieved by these celebrities.
According to the UK publication, because of the way she uses her role, Chinoy is the only director on the list who has been given the distinction of being on it. Made it to number 49, Chinoy “used her platform to raise awareness about social issues, nurture new talent and gain international attention for her work. A big highlight was stunning animated short Sitara: Let Girls Dream, which premiered earlier this year The Oscar winner was also signed up to direct superhero series Ms Marvel.”
Among others, Vellani, the up and coming Ms Wonder at number 44, was trumping the likes of Vikrant Massey and Anushka Sharma. “Born in Canada to immigrant parents from Pakistan, the 18-year-old generated global headlines after being cast as Kamala Khan in hotly anticipated series Ms Marvel,” the publication reported. As a Muslim teenage heroine, her game-changing casting was met with an overwhelming response internationally and has already made her the one to watch in 2021.
Zafar was listed for ‘saving’ the Pakistani cricket league this year by giving them a better anthem than they had, making it to number 39. “He also “promoted young talent through his record company, according to the publication. The tremendous charitable work that the singer did for those who struggled during Covid-19 was more important. His efforts motivated some and consolidated his celebrity credentials.
“But after making it to number 28 for being the fastest rising star in Pakistan,” the Ek Jhooti Love Story actor tops them all The outlet pointed out how Abbas was the “unstoppable actor” who began the year with Pyar Ke Sadqay and ended it with a sleeper hit from ZEE5. “With more high-profile projects on the way, Khan looks like the future of Pakistani film and television,” claimed the publication.
And, of course, Asim Abbasi’s Churail was superior to the likes of Pankaj Tripathi, Salman Khan and all the Pakistani celebrities who made it to the list. Gillani led the cast list of the year’s best new South Asian serial, Churails, at number 21, “which exploded onto the scene and destroyed all existing rulebooks,” the outlet said. “With the electrifying drama, she opened the door for a new era of TV content in Pakistan box and consolidated her position as a feminist icon,” she concluded.
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