Yet another proud moment for Pakistan as Mahira Khan, Aiman Khan and Atif Aslam have made it to the inaugural Forbes Asia’s 100 Digital Stars list. The list highlights celebrities from across the Asia Pacific region who have taken the digital world by storm, according to a press release.
Writing about Mahira, who earlier also featured on BBC’s ‘100 women of 2020’, Forbes said: “The star of Pakistani musical Superstar will return to the screen this year in action drama The Legend of Maula Jatt, Pakistan’s most expensive film to date. Khan uses her social media presence—nearly 7 million Instagram followers and over 4 million on Facebook—to raise awareness about mental health issues, violence against women and breast cancer.”
Similarly, while writing about Aiman, the magazine said: “With nearly 8 million followers, Khan is the most-followed Pakistani celebrity on Instagram. She and twin sister Minal run the clothing site Aiman Minal Closet, with 249,000 Instagram followers. Last year she was nominated for Best Actress at Pakistan’s Hum Awards for roles in TV shows Ishq Tamasha and Baandi.”
Meanwhile, while writing about Atif, Forbes spoke about his recitation of the 99 names of Allah.
“Released in May, his song Asma-ul-Husna recites Allah’s 99 names to encourage hope during the pandemic and has over 22 million views on YouTube. Aslam urged his 20 million Facebook followers to stay home to curb the spread of the coronavirus,” read Atif’s write-up.
Other prominent celebrities who featured on the list and are popular in Pakistan include South Korean band BTS, Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Jacqueline Fernandez, Ranveer Singh, Hrithik Roshan, Margot Robbie, Chris Hemsworth, Hugh Jackman, Akshay Kumar, Alia Bhatt, Madhuri Dixit, Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma.
In a statement, Forbes also explained how they chose those featured on the list.
“To determine the finalists, Forbes Asia evaluated the candidates’ combined social media reach and engagement. Their recent work, impact and advocacy, brand endorsements and business endeavours, and their recognition profile on a local, regional and global level were also considered. Only those active in film, music, and TV were eligible,” said the publication.
About Forbes Asia’s 100 Digital Stars list
Forbes Asia’s 100 Digital Stars list features 100 singers, bands, film and TV stars with a strong social media presence. With millions of followers across popular platforms, these celebrities have maintained their relevance and popularity in this challenging period by leveraging on the power of social media. Many have also used their influence to support worthy causes, especially those with a Covid-19 focus.
“The inaugural Forbes Asia’s 100 Digital Stars list couldn’t have come at a more relevant time. Artists rely on social media platforms to connect and communicate with fans, especially in the absence of live entertainment due to Covid-19 restrictions around the region,” said Rana Wehbe Watson, editor of the list. “The 100 celebrities highlighted on the list range in age from 20 to 78, proving that social media influence is a cross-generational phenomenon.”
