RRR actor NTR Jr, Jacqueline Fernandez, Preity Zinta, Vir Das and Oscar nominee Shaunak Sen were among stars who attended the second South Asian Excellence Pre-Oscars Celebration hosted by Priyanka Chopra at the Paramount Studio on Friday night (IST).

Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai and Indian actress Esha Gupta also attended the star-studded event, aimed at celebrating South Asian films and Oscar nominees of South Asian descent.

“So proud of my incredible wife for putting this event on for the second year in a row to celebrate South Asian Excellence during Oscar’s week,” wrote Priyanka’s husband Nick Jonas in an appreciation post on Instagram.

The Quantico star was decked up in a white Falguni Shane Peacock outfit – an embellished corset top, a sheer shimmery skirt and a fur jacket.

Co-host Mindy Kaling also opted for a stunning sari from the same designer. The Office actress posed with Malala, NTR Jr and Bridgerton actress Simone Ashley.

Preity, who also celebrated Holi with Priyanka, shared several pictures from the event. The Kal Ho Naa Ho actress clicked selfies with Jacqueline, NTR Jr, Shaunak, Guneet Monga and Malala at the party.

“From meeting old friends to making new ones, last night was so special. Nothing is more sexy & beautiful than an independent, powerful & talented woman. Real women don’t compete with each other - they support & empower each other & have fun together,” Preity wrote alongside the pictures.

Tan France, Raymond Ablack, Poorna Jagannathan, Anoushka Shankar, Rahul Sipligunj and Maitreyee Ramakrishnan were also among the guests at the event.

The party featured performances by Pakistani singer Ali Sethi who sang his smash-hit Pasoori along with a rendition of Lata Mangeshkar’s Sama Hai Ye Pyaar Ka. Pallavi Sharda, the leading actress of Netflix’s Wedding Season, showed off her moves to Ali’s performance.

DJ Rekha and Sway Bhatia also performed at the event, which saw Danny Pudi, Meena Harris and Academy president Janet Yang among the several guests.

The 95th Academy Awards, set to take place on March 13 (IST), has several South Asian nominations this year including Shaunak Sen’s documentary All That Breathes along with a best original song nomination for RRR dance number Naatu Naatu. The documentary shorts Elephant Whisperers, Stranger at the Gate and Joyland were also honoured at the event.