It was a historic moment for Indian artists as actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh became the first Punjabi singer to perform at the 2023 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in the US. The music and arts festival, taking place in the Coachella Valley in California's Indio, is scheduled to take place over two weekends.
Dosanjh was part of the day two line-up of the first weekend, which saw performances by global music stars such as Blackpink, Charli XCX, Labrinth, and Kid Laroi.
Dressed in an all-black traditional Punjabi attire paired with sneakers, Dosanjh prayed before entering the stage and was welcomed with a huge cheer from the fans amid fireworks.
“Now it has been written in history. Punjabi aa gaye hum Coachella (Punjabis have reached Coachella). And those who don't understand my songs, catch the vibe," Dosanjh said on stage in Punjabi.
As per other videos circulating on social media, the singer-actor, who shuffles between India and Canada, performed his hit tracks such as "Jatt Da Pyaar", "Patiala Peg" and "Munda Hunda Dhuppa Vich Tan Kudiye".
Throughout the performance, shots of Dosanjh's previous concerts were playing on a big screen in the background on stage.
He was accompanied by a live band and bhangra dance troupe during his close to the 45-minute-long set.
During the performance of “Patiala Peg”, American music producer and DJ Diplo was spotted dancing in the crowd, a video of which was shared by Dosanjh on his Instagram Stories.
Audiences were seen asking him to extend his set, but Dosanjh hinted that he had to leave the stage and thanked them for all the love.
Veteran Punjabi folk singer Gurdas Maan congratulated Dosanjh for becoming the first Punjabi artist to perform at the American music festival.
"Punjabi music lai Ikk Vadda din @diljitdosanjh wah!! Poori team nu bahut bahut mubarkan. (A big day for Punjabi music. Superb Diljit Dosanjh. Congratulations to the whole team.)" he posted on Twitter.
Dosanjh said he had learnt everything from Maan, credited for taking Punjabi music across the globe.
"I've learnt everything from you. Living Legend @gurdasmaan Saab," he wrote.
Rapper Badshah and Dosanjh's Udta Punjab co-star Kareena Kapoor Khan also congratulated him.
In addition to Dosanjh, well-known Pakistani singer Ali Sethi and Indian-American rapper Raja Kumari performed together at Coachella music festival on April 17. The duo took over the stage and performed “Pasoori” at the coveted music fest.
“What we can’t do over there, we can do over here...all kinds of forbidden love represented here today,” Ali Sethi said on stage after their performance.
Before them, English singer and songwriter Charli XCX delivered a hot and steamy performance at the festival on April 15. At her first-ever performance at the festival, she brought out Troye Sivan for “1999” and performed the live debut of her remix of Caroline Polachek’s “Welcome to My Island”.
Jai Paul, the reclusive London-based songwriter and producer, performed live for the very first time. His setlist included songs like “BTSTU”, “Jasmine”, “Str8 Outta Mumbai”, “Genevieve”, “Crush” and “100,000” from his debut project, the leaked demo album “Leak 04-13 (Bait Ones)”.
Stay tuned to this space for more updates!
A scene from The Thursday Murder Club, where four retirees turn amateur detectives in a quiet British village shaken by a real murderInstagram/NetflixUK
Stills from Andaz Apna Apna
Stills from Andaz Apna Apna
Vinay Kumar Sinha
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.