Before the glitz and glam of the Oscars took over Hollywood, the Paramount lot played host to the third annual South Asian Excellence pre-Oscars bash, attracting a galaxy of stars. Among the shining personalities gracing the red carpet were Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Ali Sethi, Kal Penn, Lilly Singh, Rupi Kaur, Richa Moorjani, Hannah Simone, Karan Soni, and Tan France.
The night reached its pinnacle when acclaimed filmmaker and advocate Sharmeen took to Instagram to showcase the vibrant South Asian presence at the Oscars. In her post, she expressed joy in celebrating South Asian nominees, emphasizing the significance of championing their achievements. “Celebrating South Asian Nominees at the Oscars this year! This evening is always special. So glad we are now able to champion our kin!” she remarked.
Donning a stunning ensemble by Pakistani designer Hussain Rehar, Sharmeen captivated attendees with a beige karandi blazer intricately embellished with embroidery, paired elegantly with a high-waisted star spray embroidered skirt from Rehar’s Jugnu Lahore collection.
Expressing gratitude to the hosts and the esteemed designer, Sharmeen concluded her Instagram post with heartfelt thanks. “Thank you Shruti & Anita for bringing us all together! Thank you Hussain Rehar for the designs and Alizeh Pasha for the inspiration!”
Beyond celebrating South Asian talent in cinema, the pre-Oscars soiree served as a platform for fostering solidarity and support within the community. Last year, Priyanka Chopra and Mindy Kaling, alongside Paramount Pictures, hosted a similar event ahead of the Oscars 2023 in Los Angeles.
Joining Sharmeen were a plethora of Pakistani stars, including the Joyland team Saim Sadiq, Alina Khan, Apoorva Guru Chara, activist Malala and her husband Asser Malik, singer Ali Sethi, and actor-director Riz Ahmed.
Asser shared a snapshot from the party on his Instagram Story featuring the “Pakistani gang,” which included Tan France, Maheen Khan, Rasti Farooq, and Ali Junejo.
Adding to the soirée’s charm was a mini Ms. Marvel reunion, where Sharmeen posed with actors Zenobia Shroff and Saagar Sheikh.
