The Pakistan International Screen Awards (PISA) 2021 was a glittering, glamorous affair. Held in the upscale Jumeirah Beach area in Dubai, the Awards were nothing short of luxurious, with Pakistan’s most celebrated celebrities showing up in style. Big names like Iqra Aziz, Sana Javed and Hiba Bukhari were in attendance.

In a welcome move, numerous female artists opted to wear traditional saris for the evening. Showcasing our cultural attire on an international platform allowed them to reclaim the event as one celebrating Pakistan’s rapidly growing entertainment industry, instead of attempting to recreate typical red-carpet looks from foreign shows.

Here are some of our favorite looks from the grand event itself.

Hania Aamir looked stunning in a subtle gold sari. Her silver, dangly earrings also added to the soft, yet elegant touch. She offset the otherwise simple look with a bold red lip color and chose to wear her hair down for a sleek look.

Pyarey Afzal star, Sana Javed, also opted for a similar style. Draped in an emerald-green sari, she also chose to wear her hair down, with a nude lip color. To complete the look, she carried a black clutch which complemented her hair and heavy eyelashes. The overall picture was one of elegance, and she definitely pulled the look off with grace. The slender outfit was put together by Umar Sayeed couture.

Her spouse, and popular musician, Umair Jaswal also stood out in his all-black ensemble. It’s the accessories which really made this one pop. It’s not easy to pull off wearing dark glasses inside without looking ridiculous, but this guy made it look cool once more. Coupling the glasses with a flamboyant hat and a neatly trimmed beard gave his outfit an effortlessly cool appearance. The black LV scarf hanging around his neck also contributed to the vibe. The silver watch on his hand highlighted the otherwise lowkey silver chain on his neck and added a glamorous touch to the outfit.

Next up, we have popular fashion designer, Sania Maskatiya. While the others did a great job at coming up with an elegant look, one could argue they were slightly too minimalistic for such a grand award show? However, no one could say that for this contemporary and innovative twist to the traditional, beloved sari. The pink cloth included a dull gold pattern and embroidery, in contrast to the plain saris worn by the others. The showstopper, however, was the unique way in which she tied the sari. The dupatta was tied in a knot so as to allow a view of the blouse behind it, while the traditional skirt below was replaced with a pant-style. One could argue it was a sort of beautiful hybrid of a Western jumpsuit and a desi sari. She wore heels and light accessories to complete the look. I guess she really lived up to the famous Maskatiya name!

Speaking of Sania Maskatiya, she also designed this gorgeous look for Sana Hussyn, who carried it gracefully. While the sari was plain and minimalistic like the others highlighted above, it included beautiful silver armlets with matching earrings, giving the outfit a complete and unique look. The auburn color also really stood out; the flow of the sari as well as the dupatta reminded one of an image of someone on fire. Considering that Hussyn won the award for the Best Actress category at PISA 2021, I guess she really was on fire!