Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Diljit Dosanjh tops global Asian celebrity list for 2024

Punjabi singing sensation dethrones 2023 winner Shah Rukh Khan and beats off tough global competition to be named number one South Asian star of the year.

The Punjabi superstar ranked ahead of international talents from global cinema, television, the music industry, arts, literature, and social media.

The Punjabi superstar ranked ahead of international talents from global cinema, television, the music industry, arts, literature, and social media.

DILJIT DOSANJH rounded off the greatest ever year for a Punjabi celebrity by topping the Top 50 Asian Celebrities In The World list for 2024. The singer and actor dethroned last year’s winner Shah Rukh Khan, along with strong celebrity competition from around the world, in this year’s edition of the popular list, published annually by UK-based Eastern Eye newspaper.

The Punjabi superstar ranked ahead of international talents from global cinema, television, the music industry, arts, literature, and social media. His dream year included the biggest ever global live tour undertaken by an Indian, stunning acting success, cool collaborations, and path-breaking moments.


Eastern Eye entertainment editor Asjad Nazir, who puts together the list, explained why the 40-year-old phenomenon made such a big impact in 2024. “The singing superstar delivered the most successful world tour undertaken by any South Asian celebrity in history with his blockbuster Dil-Luminati show. His history-making performance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon broke new ground for Indian music. He delivered hit songs, which included solo singles, top tracks for films and international collaborations. In between all the musical magic, the multi-talented star showed off his impressive acting ability in films and proudly promoted his Punjabi culture. Everybody was talking about him in what turned out to be a dream year.”

Diljit found success with next to no media interviews and remained humble throughout his game-changing year. He kept with that by not commenting on topping this year’s list. Sentiments he has expressed at the beginning of each concert, with "Panjabi aagaye hai” (the Punjabis have arrived), sum up his rise. He has also previously stated, “I was born in Punjab, it'll always be a part of me until I die. Someone said that I don't stay there anymore, but I take Punjab with me wherever I go.

The Top 50 list celebrating Asian stars who shone the brightest in 2024 is based on brilliant work, positive impact, breaking boundaries, shattering glass ceilings, fan attention, and being inspiring in some way. There was also a big public input, with readers and social media users nominating their favourites.

Half-Indian pop superstar Charli XCX came in second, narrowly missing out on the top spot, for an incredible year that included sold-out live performances, seven Grammy nominations, and her now iconic Brat album, which spawned a huge global movement.

Charli XCXCharli XCXCharli XCX

Third-placed Allu Arjun smashed box office records with the year’s most successful Indian film Pushpa 2: The Rule and significantly changed the cinema landscape in his country. Fourth-placed Dev Patel confirmed himself as a Hollywood power player by remarkably writing, directing, producing, and starring in the hit movie Monkey Man, along with signing more major projects.

Allu Arjun Allu Arjun Allu Arjun

Fifth-placed Priyanka Chopra Jonas remained the most famous Indian celebrity in the world, as she balanced high-profile projects that ranged from movies to starting work on season two of the mega-budget series Citadel.

Sixth place Vijay starred in the year’s most successful Tamil movie and started a political party with the sole aim of making a positive difference.

Seventh-placed Arijit Singh had a stunning year that included overtaking international pop icon Taylor Swift as the most followed artist on Spotify.

Arijit SinghArijit SinghArijit Singh

Australian actress Geraldine Viswanathan, in eighth place, has established herself as arguably the number one actress of South Asian origin in Hollywood and signed major projects like the upcoming Marvel superhero movie Thunderbolts.

The highest-placed Pakistani is actress Hania Aamir (9), who delivered a strong performance in the globally successful drama serial Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum, raised awareness about mental health, and signed more major projects.

Hania AamirHania AamirHania Aamir

British actress Simone Ashley, at number 10, continued making a global impact with projects that ranged from the hit serial Bridgerton to landing big movies.

The oldest star in the list is once again 82-year-old Amitabh Bachchan (26). The youngest is 17-year-old actress Nitanshi Goel (42), who played the lead role in India’s official Oscar entry Laapataa Ladies and said: “Being the youngest on this prestigious list is truly humbling. 2024 has been a transformative year for me, especially with the love and appreciation my character Phool and Laapataa Ladies has received. Phool’s story of resilience and self-discovery touched my heart, and it’s amazing to see how it resonated with audiences across the globe. I’m incredibly grateful for the love and hope to continue inspiring young dreamers like myself.”

The highest-placed Indian television star is Rupali Ganguly (16). The highest-placed comedian is in-demand star Romesh Ranganathan (19), and the only author to make the list is British writer Onjali Q. Rauf (49). The only artist in the list is Jasleen Kaur (40), who won the prestigious Turner Prize.

The only social media star in the list is Viraj Ghelani (44), who headlined the year’s biggest Gujarati movie Jhamkudi and did path-breaking stand-up comedy internationally in the language.

Creative talent from diverse fields and different languages crossing new frontiers with impactful work showed that 2024 was very much defined by breaking boundaries. “The exciting global South Asian talent from four different continents were shattering glass ceilings, breaking records, and constantly creating something new, from taking music, movies, and even comedy into new arenas, to creating movements that inspired others to follow. These rule-breakers are inspiring a new generation to do things differently and show that anything really is possible,” said Asjad Nazir.

Others in the 2024 list include Fahadh Faasil (12), Rajkummar Rao (15), Vijay Sethupathi (17), Shreya Ghoshal (18), Zayn Malik (21), Shazad Latif (24), Karan Aujla (29), Arooj Aftab (33), Kani Kusruti (35), Himesh Patel (38), Sumbul Touqeer (43), and Vir Das (45).
The full list is published in Eastern Eye newspaper on 13 December.

More For You

Amazon promises ‘fresh’ take on James Bond while honouring legacy

The next era of 'James Bond'

Getty

Amazon promises ‘fresh’ take on James Bond while honouring legacy

The future of James Bond is taking shape under new ownership, with Amazon MGM pledging a "fresh" yet respectful approach to the iconic spy franchise. As speculation mounts over who will step into the role of James Bond, the studio has reassured fans that it remains committed to upholding Bond’s rich legacy while steering the franchise in a new direction.

A landmark acquisition

The James Bond films, long controlled by the fiercely protective Broccoli family, saw a major shift earlier this year when Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson agreed to relinquish creative control. Amazon MGM’s reported $1 billion (£760 million) acquisition of the rights surprised many within the industry, raising questions about the franchise’s future under new leadership.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rosamund Pike’s Hilarious James Bond Love Scene Blunder

Rosamund Pike and Pierce Brosnan in Die Another Day – The actress recently shared a hilarious behind-the-scenes mishap from their romantic scene

Instagram/Reddit

Rosamund Pike reveals mortifying James Bond love scene mishap: "I thought I was waxing Pierce Brosnan’s chest!"

Rosamund Pike has revealed a hilarious mix-up from her time filming Die Another Day alongside Pierce Brosnan. While shooting a romantic scene, the young actress believed she was accidentally waxing Brosnan’s chest, but the truth was far less painful.

During a recent conversation on David Tennant’s podcast, Pike spoke about her first major Hollywood role as Miranda Frost in the 2002 James Bond film. At just 22, she was still new to the industry and unfamiliar with some behind-the-scenes tricks of the trade, including the use of nipple covers and body tape during intimate scenes.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kanye West admits to tracking wife Bianca Censori after her escape in explosive new song

Kanye West’s explosive new track Bianca reveals shocking details about his crumbling marriage, tracking allegations, and family feud

Getty Images

Kanye West admits to tracking wife Bianca Censori after her escape in explosive new song

Kanye West has once again thrown himself into controversy, this time through his latest track, Bianca. The song, which dropped on DJ Akademiks’ platform, offers a raw, unfiltered look into his crumbling marriage with Bianca Censori. In the lyrics, West reveals shocking details about her alleged escape, her attempt to have him institutionalised, and his efforts to track her down. The track has sparked outrage and concern, drawing comparisons to real-life psychological thrillers and high-profile celebrity scandals.

West’s lyrics suggest that his wife reached a breaking point and felt she had no choice but to flee. He raps:

Keep ReadingShow less
John Wick

A classic still from John Wick

Instagram/WorldofJohnWick

John Wick gets animated makeover: Lionsgate & Chad Stahelski expand the assassin universe with new series

The John Wick franchise is expanding into animation, offering fans a fresh take on the high-octane world of assassins. Lionsgate has confirmed that an animated series titled John Wick: The Continental is in development, exploring untold stories from the universe of the hit action films.

Chad Stahelski, who directed all four John Wick movies, revealed the project during a recent interview. He emphasised that animation allows for storytelling beyond the limits of live-action, making it possible to explore characters and events in ways not seen before. This new approach aims to deepen the mythology of the franchise while maintaining the action-packed style that fans love.

Keep ReadingShow less