Indian actor Prabhas has been named as the number one Asian celebrity on the planet for 2021.
The biggest Pan-Indian movie star beat off tough global competition to top the latest edition of the 50 Asian Celebrities In The World list, published by the UK based Eastern Eye newspaper.
The modern-day icon ranked ahead of global stars, including from Hollywood, the music industry, television, literature, and social media, for changing the face of the world’s largest film industry.
Eastern Eye entertainment editor, Asjad Nazir, who put together the list explained why Prabhas has had massive transformative effect on Indian cinema.
He said: “Prabhas has drawn attention to regional language films in India in a way not seen before. He has shown that Bollywood is no longer the boss and inspired everyone to release Indian movies in multiple languages simultaneously.
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"With the fastest growing fanbase of any Asian celebrity globally, he generated big headlines and remarkable social media attention without trying. He quietly did amazing philanthropic work without speaking about it and remains the most relatable major movie star globally.”
Such is his humility, the down to earth star chose not to comment on topping the list and is very much focused on forthcoming films, including Radhe Shyam, Adipurush, Salaar and Spirit, which will accelerate the positive change he has been instrumental in.
Radhe Shyam director Radha Krishna Kumar thinks Prabhas deserves all the praise, saying: “It was a dream like experience shooting with India’s biggest star like Prabhas on Radhe Shyam. The amount of passion he used to come with on the sets was exemplary and a driving factor for us all. I'm thrilled for the audience to witness what magic we have created with Radhe Shyam.”
The top 50 list celebrating Asian stars who shone the brightest in 2021, is based on those who did incredible work, made a positive impact, broke boundaries, shattered glass ceilings, generated fan attention or were just inspiring in their own unique way. There was also a big public input as countless posts were generated by social media users nominating their favourite.
Riz Ahmed came in second for his path-breaking work in Hollywood, which included becoming the first Muslim to get an Oscar nomination for Best Actor, starring in big budget film Encounter, speaking up against Islamophobia and being a driving force for fairer representation.
Riz Ahmed (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
Third placed Priyanka Chopra-Jonas was once again the most famous Indian on the planet and her 2021 work included The White Tiger and Hollywood blockbuster The Matrix Resurrections.
Fourth placed Mindy Kaling remained the biggest South Asian power player in Hollywood and developed multiple projects, along with being a strong symbol for working mothers.
Highest placed singer, Shreya Ghoshal (5) delivered more hit songs in multiple languages than anyone else, and that too in a year she had her first child.
Pakistan-born, American actor Kumail Nanjiani in sixth place shattered the ultimate cinematic glass ceiling by playing a superhero in The Eternals.
Sajal Ali in seventh is the highest placed Pakistani and had a year filled with magnificent performances in multiple drama serials and acted in her first international film What’s Love Got To Do With It, which will break ground for leading ladies in her country.
Sajal Ali
“It is a great honour for me to be included in the top 10. The challenges COVID-19 brought continued in 2021 but this did not deter me from working hard. In fact, 2021 was one of my busiest years with two films and two dramas back-to-back. As we inch closer to 2022, I would like to take this moment to reiterate my commitment towards my craft and would like to assure my fans around the world there are more exciting projects to witness in 2022,” said Sajal Ali.
The rest of the top 10 is Half-Indian British pop superstar Charli XCX (8), British actor Dev Patel (9) and India’s fastest rise star Shehnaaz Gill (10).
The oldest star in the list is 79-year-old Amitabh Bachchan (32) and the youngest is 18-year-old actress Sumbul Touqeer Khan (16), for her stunning title role in hit serial Imlie.
Sumbul Touqeer Khan
She said: “It feels great to have my work recognised and to be the youngest in a list of so many global talents. It has been a special year and I am thankful to all the team of Imlie and all the audiences who have shown it so much love. To be ranked number 16 is amazing.”
The highest placed author is the Booker Prize nominated Anuk Arudpragasam (45) and YouTuber Madan Gowri (50) is the only full-time online content creator in the list.
“The Covid-19 pandemic was unable to stop South Asians from making a mark globally in diverse fields, ranging from YouTube, literature and TV to headlining movie blockbusters. Whether it was breaking ground, shattering glass ceilings, taking charge, or initiating a positive change, many went beyond just being celebrities and in doing so will inspire a new generation to believe anything is possible,” said Asjad Nazir
Others in the 2021 list include Diljit Dosanjh (11), Lilly Singh (12), Taapsee Pannu (14), Vijay (15), Rubina Dilaik (17), Akshay Kumar (18), Armaan Malik (19), Jameela Jamil (21), Maitreyi Ramakrishnan (22), Ayesha Singh (24), Adarsh Gourav (26), Shah Rukh Khan (27), Hadiqa Kiani (30), Ram Charan (33), Yumna Zaidi (35), Anoushka Shankar (36), Ashi Singh (38), Bilal Abbas Khan (39), Steel Banglez (42), Asim Riaz (44) and Zakir Khan (47).
The full list is published in Eastern Eye newspaper on December 10.
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)