Brooklyn-based Pakistani vocalist Arooj Aftab has won a Grammy Award for her song "Mohabbat" in the best global music performance category at Hollywood's biggest music awards night.
According to the Recording Academy, with the feat, the 37-year-old singer-composer has become the "first-ever female Pakistani GRAMMY winner".
"And the first-ever female Pakistani GRAMMY winner is... Arooj Aftab Best Global Music Performance: Mohabbat," read the post on the Recording Academy's official Instagram page.
Born to Pakistani expatriate parents in Saudi Arabia, Aftab took to Instagram after she bagged the coveted gramophone trophy.
"Oh my gosh. I am so proud of this moment personally, but also for the industry itself,"
Aftab, who works in various musical styles and idioms including jazz, minimalism, and neo-Sufi, wrote. "... tonight we celebrated music as a collective, unapologetically making what we want to make in all its genre-less limitless crossover glory. Thank you and congratulations (sic)" she added.
Pakistani star Mahira Khan said she was "proud" of the award-winning musician. "Shine on, baby! Shine on," Khan wrote on her Instagram Stories as she shared Aftab's photograph.
In her post, Aftab also shared pictures with singers Jon Batiste, Jimmie Allen, Arlo Parks, Angelique Kidjo, BTS members Jin, J-Hope, V and Jungkook, and experimental pop band Japanese Breakfast.
She reshared Grammy's post from its Instagram page. It is, however, unclear if Aftab is the first Pakistani artist or the first-ever female Pakistani to win a Grammy.
The singer was also up for the best new artist Grammy, which was later bagged by Olivia Rodrigo.
Aftab's song "Mohabbat" from the album 'Vulture Prince' has featured on former US president Barack Obama's 2021 summer playlist.
The 64th Annual Grammy Awards, conducted by the Recording Academy, was held on Sunday night in Las Vegas.
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire
Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over 'insensitive' remarks about sisters Alia and Pooja Bhatt
Rahul Bhatt, fitness trainer and son of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, has found himself at the centre of a social media storm following controversial remarks about his half-sister, Alia Bhatt. In a recent interview, Rahul drew comparisons between Alia and their older sister Pooja Bhatt, calling the latter more talented, attractive, and principled.
The comments, which many have labelled inappropriate and insensitive, have sparked widespread criticism online. During the interview, Rahul stated, “In my opinion, she (Alia) is not even half of what my real sister Pooja is. Not in talent, not in looks, not in terms of being sexy. In front of my sister, she is ‘paani kam chai’ (watery tea). Amongst the siblings, the most talented and the most moralistic is Pooja.”
Social media users reacted strongly, questioning why Rahul would compare his sisters in such personal terms. Several users were particularly disturbed by his reference to their appearance and sex appeal, pointing out that such comparisons within a family cross boundaries of propriety. One comment read, “This is disturbing. Why talk about your sisters like that? It’s not just weird, it’s wrong.” Another post said, “There’s nothing respectful about comparing your siblings’ attractiveness in public.”
The backlash also reignited conversation around a decades-old controversy involving Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt. Rahul was asked about the infamous 1990s magazine cover where the father-daughter duo shared a kiss, which had stirred public outrage at the time. Dismissing the criticism, Rahul said, “It doesn’t make any difference. It’s like water off a duck’s back. We know the truth, and we’ve seen everything since childhood.”
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire, with critics saying it reflects a broader issue of the Bhatt family being insensitive to public perception and boundaries. Many users questioned the need for bringing up old incidents in a bid to defend new and equally questionable statements.
As of now, neither Alia Bhatt nor Pooja Bhatt has issued any public response to Rahul’s remarks. Both actors, known for their significant contributions to Indian cinema, have typically kept family matters private despite living in the public eye.
This episode has also sparked debate over the role of public figures in maintaining respect when discussing family matters in the media. Observers say such comments, especially when involving women’s appearance and personal qualities, reinforce problematic attitudes and fuel unnecessary controversies.
While Rahul Bhatt is not as prominent in the entertainment industry as his father or sisters, his comments have made headlines and placed the Bhatt family in the spotlight for reasons beyond their creative work. For many, this serves as a reminder that public platforms come with responsibility, and that family ties should not be trivialised or dissected for attention or comparison.
The backlash is unlikely to subside soon, especially as fans and followers of Alia and Pooja continue to express disappointment over the way the situation has unfolded. Whether or not Rahul chooses to clarify or apologise remains to be seen.