Fresh off of her historic Grammy win, the Brooklyn-based Pakistani singer Arooj Aftab has added another feather to her cap with a debut at the much-touted Coachella music festival.
She graced the California desert with a set that centered her melodious Urdu lyricism, a barrier-breaking move as she became the first Pakistani to play the prestigious festival.
For Aftab, the language barrier no longer exists: "This is a door that's opened."
The 37-year-old -- who just released a cover of Spanish flamenco revisionist Rosalia's Di mi nombre -- sees a revolution in popular music, with artists sailing freely past genre and borders.
"There's a movement happening in the music industry at large," she said on the grounds of Coachella, where she delivered a moving performance of her work that fuses ancient Sufi traditions with inflections of folk, jazz and minimalism.
"The audience and the musicians are creating music and the audiences are listening to music with a lot of freedom in their minds. Less genre-genre, less border-border," she said.
"It's so free, and open, and really, really beautiful."
She credits the Latinx community for making huge inroads in this respect, citing Rosalia along with Becky G, Karol G, J. Balvin and Bad Bunny as influential in the transformation.
"The trap movement definitely changed the way listeners listen," Aftab said, referring to the explosion of Southern US hip hop that later made it's way into Latin America and fused with reggaeton.
The surge of Latin music on US airwaves and especially on streaming platforms "created a big opening in the minds of listeners in America," she continued."
"They now listen to music that they don't understand, and it's fine! They love it. That's a big step."
Aftab said that opening has allowed her to feel more liberated with her own creations, putting out music based on emotions, without limitation.
"It's a personal music," she said. "It's not 'my country, my country' -- it's global music. It's everything that we feel, it's all the people that we meet."
"Whatever makes my heart sing is in the music."
- 'A high' -
With three studio albums, Aftab mere weeks ago made history in becoming the first Pakistani solo vocalist to nab a Grammy, winning for her song Mohabbat in the Best Global Performance category.
She was also nominated in the prestigious Best New Artist field -- although that award went, as expected, to pop sensation Olivia Rodrigo.
But Aftab is basking in the moment of recognition, savoring her career accolades as well as her two performance dates at the premier Coachella festival.
Arooj Aftab attends the Spotify Best New Artist Brunch at Encore Beach Club at Wynn, Las Vegas (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images for Spotify)
"It feels really amazing, it's a high -- it's a high moment in my career," the singer said. "I've been working towards this moment and imagining that this moment would come, or not."
"And it did! Which is miraculous."
She's also stoked to be back in front of live audiences, with Coachella returning after a three-year, pandemic-induced hiatus.
Featuring artists from all over the world, the 2022 Coachella poster is a reflection of music's' globalization and genre fluidity.
For Aftab, that's a big win: "This is a door that's opened, for sure."
"And I'm going to leave the door open, for sure."
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.