On Saturday night, under the world-famous Wembley arch, five words rang out: "Punjabi Aa Gaye Wembley Oye!" Indian megastar Diljit Dosanjh famously starts all his concerts by announcing that "the Punjabis have arrived". But this time, it was a play on the usual catchphrase. Dosanjh is the first ever Punjabi singer to headline Wembley Stadium, the music venue has said.
Addressing his fans, he reflected on the significance of the occasion. "This moment will go down in the history books," he said. And as Bhangra beats blared out, fans erupted with cheers while Dosanjh launched into his biggest hits, from G.O.A.T. to Lover.
Over two decades, Dosanjh has built a huge global fanbase, topping charts and singing with the likes of Ed Sheeran. He has even busted Bhangra moves with Jimmy Fallon, external, with the US talk show host labelling him "the biggest Punjabi artist on the planet". His landmark concert at Wembley further cements his status as a global star.
Ahead of the show, the singer spoke exclusively to the BBC backstage, describing the moment as "a dream" for him. In London, Dosanjh's crowd was largely - but not entirely - South Asian. The hype for his appearance was building all afternoon, with fans arriving early to get in place.
"MJ [Michael Jackson] and Madonna, he's that level for us," said one fan. "He's so good looking, and so down to earth," said another. When he came on the stage shortly after 8pm, dressed in traditional attire, the stadium erupted and the screams barely stopped for the next two-and-a-bit hours.
Known for his high-energy performances, he wowed fans with his dance routines to songs including Hass Hass and Born to Shine. His soulful voice echoed around the stadium, demonstrating his range, as he blended homegrown Punjabi music with rap and hip-hop. Throughout the show, the audience waved lights, sang along and - of course - danced.
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