Pooja Pillai is an entertainment journalist with Asian Media Group, where she covers cinema, pop culture, internet trends, and the politics of representation. Her work spans interviews, cultural features, and social commentary across digital platforms.
She began her reporting career as a news anchor, scripting and presenting stories for a regional newsroom. With a background in journalism and media studies, she has since built a body of work exploring how entertainment intersects with social and cultural shifts, particularly through a South Indian lens.
She brings both newsroom rigour and narrative curiosity to her work, and believes the best stories don’t just inform — they reveal what we didn’t know we needed to hear.
Selena Gomez shared photos and videos from her bachelorette celebrations in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
The star wore a series of bridal-inspired white outfits, from pearl minidresses to crochet cover-ups
Blanco marked his bachelor party in Las Vegas with friends and fine dining
The couple, engaged since December 2024, are expected to tie the knot this autumn
Selena Gomez has given fans a behind-the-scenes look at her bachelorette party in Cabo San Lucas, where she gathered her closest friends for a sun-soaked celebration ahead of her upcoming wedding to music producer Benny Blanco. The 33-year-old singer, who announced her engagement in December 2024, posted a carousel of photos and videos on Instagram that captured the group’s seaside getaway, featuring themed decorations, yacht rides, and candlelit dinners.
Selena Gomez poses in Cabo wearing a pearl-embellished minidress during her bachelorette celebrations. Instagram/selenagomez
What happened at Selena Gomez’s bachelorette party in Cabo?
Gomez embraced her role as bride-to-be with a parade of all-white outfits. She wore a pearl-adorned Retrofête halterneck minidress, a white bikini under a crochet cover-up, and several short white sundresses. A veil embroidered with “bride to be” and rose-gold balloons spelling out “Mrs Levin”, referencing Blanco’s real surname, completed the bridal theme.
Photos showed Gomez surrounded by her friends, including cousin Priscilla DeLeon and long-time pal Raquelle Stevens, as they posed on a yacht and dined together on the beach. A video featured a mariachi band serenading the group, as well as clips of the women watching Wedding Crashers projected on the sand, dancing around their villa, and wearing customised “S+B” merchandise.
How did Benny Blanco celebrate his bachelor party?
While Gomez was enjoying Mexico, Blanco celebrated his bachelor weekend in Las Vegas. The 37-year-old producer shared highlights from the trip on Instagram Stories, including a lavish meal with a panoramic view of the Strip. He described a spa visit as “the most healing place on earth” and posted photos of himself enjoying caviar and bagels. Blanco was also joined by friends including The Bear actor Matty Matheson, who appeared holding a large stack of cash during the celebrations.
Benny Blanco marked his bachelor weekend in Las Vegas with friends, food and a spa visit. Instagram Screengrab/itsbennyblanco
When did Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco get engaged?
The couple confirmed their engagement in December 2024 after more than a year of dating. Blanco later revealed that Gomez helped design her engagement ring, which features a marquise diamond inspired by her 2015 single Good For You. The pair have since been candid about their wedding planning journey, though the ceremony date has not been officially confirmed. Reports suggest the nuptials are expected to take place this autumn in Montecito, California, with A-list guests including Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran.
What do we know about Selena Gomez’s wedding plans?
In a recent interview, Gomez expressed her excitement about marrying Blanco, saying: “I just have never really felt so sure about something.” The couple, who also collaborated on a joint album I Said I Love You First, are said to be finalising details for a two-day celebration with heightened security. Blanco confirmed that Ed Sheeran is among his top invitees, while Gomez’s closest friends including Swift are expected to attend.
With both stars sharing glimpses of their pre-wedding festivities, anticipation is building around what promises to be one of the most high-profile weddings of the year. Fans are already speculating about Gomez’s final bridal look after her parade of white ensembles in Cabo.
Forum brings UK and Chinese film professionals together to explore collaborations.
Emerging British-Asian talent gain mentorship and international exposure.
Small-scale dramas, kids’ shows, and adapting popular formats were the projects everyone was talking about.
Telling stories that feel real to their culture, yet can connect with anyone, is what makes them work worldwide.
Meeting three times a year keeps the UK and China talking, creating opportunities that last beyond one event.
The theatre was packed for the Third Shanghai–London Screen Industry Forum. Between panels and workshops, filmmakers, producers and executives discussed ideas and business cards and it felt more than just a summit. British-Asian filmmakers were meeting and greeting the Chinese industry in an attempt to explore genuine possibilities of working in China’s film market.
UK China film collaborations take off as Third Shanghai London Forum connects British Asian filmmakers with Chinese studios Instagram/ukchinafilm
What makes the forum important for British-Asian filmmakers?
For filmmakers whose films explore identity and belonging, this is a chance to show their work on an international stage, meet Chinese directors, talk co-productions and break cultural walls that normally feel unscalable. “It’s invaluable,” Abid Khan said after a panel, “because you can’t create globally if you don’t talk globally.”
And it’s not just established names. Young filmmakers were all around, pitching ideas and learning on the go. The forum gave them a chance to get noticed with mentoring, workshops, and live pitch sessions.
Which projects are catching international attention?
Micro-dramas are trending. Roy Lu of Linmon International says vertical content for apps is “where it’s at.” They’ve done US, Canada, Australia and next stop, Europe. YouTube is back in focus too, thanks to Rosemary Reed of POW TV Studios. Short attention spans and three-minute hits, she’s ready.
Children’s and sports shows are another hotspot. Jiella Esmat of 8Lions is developing Touch Grass, a football-themed children’s show. The logic is simple: sports and kids content unite families, like global glue.
Then there’s format adaptation. Lu also talked about Nothing But 30, a Chinese series with 7 billion streams. The plan is for an english version in London. Not a straight translation, but a cultural transformation. “‘30’ in London isn’t just words,” Lu says. “It’s a new story.”
Jason Zhang of Stellar Pictures says international audiences respond when culture isn’t just a background prop. Lanterns, flowers, rituals, they’re part of the plot. Cedric Behrel from Trinity CineAsia adds: you need context. Western audiences don’t know Journey to the West, so co-production helps them understand without diluting the story.
Economic sense matters too. Roy Lu stresses: pick your market, make it financially viable. Esmat likens ideal co-productions to a marriage: “Multicultural teams naturally think about what works globally and what doesn’t.”
The UK-China Film Collab’s Future Talent Programme is taking on eight students or recent grads this year. They’re getting the backstage access to international filmmaking that few ever see, including mentorship, festival organising and hands-on experience. Alumni are landing real jobs: accredited festival journalists, Beijing producers, curators at The National Gallery.
Adrian Wootton OBE reminded everyone: “We exist through partnerships, networks, and collaboration.” Yin Xin from Shanghai Media Group noted that tri-annual gathering: London, Shanghai, Hong Kong create an “intensive concentration” of ideas.
Actor-director Zhang Luyi said it best: cultural exchange isn’t telling your story to someone, it’s creating stories together.
The Shanghai-London Screen Industry Forum is no longer just a talking shop. It’s a launchpad, a bridge. And for British-Asian filmmakers and emerging talent, it’s a chance to turn ideas into reality.
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