‘He is ruthless’: Truth about Dua Lipa’s VERY protective father as insiders tell KATIE HIND about his control over her career – while she reveals her own encounter with Callum Turner

It was one of the most important nights of Dua Lipa’s career. Not only had she been invited to open the 2024 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, performing a medley of her hits, the singer was also nominated in two categories. For a girl who grew up in a cramped former council flat in London, it was quite the moment.

But taking her arm as she walked the red carpet was not her new boyfriend – and now husband – actor Callum Turner. Rather, that honour went to her beloved father, Dukagjin.

Known as Dugi for short – or ‘Daddy Lipa’ to the singer’s devoted fans – he attracted much attention for his dapper appearance on the night. Dressed in a classic tuxedo with a black bow tie, handsome Dugi was bombarded with messages from women across the globe.

Websites devoted page after page to articles featuring photographs of him, describing the then-54-year-old as ‘the hottest dad in the world’. One fan even wrote online: ‘Please tell Dua Lipa’s dad I’m single.’

Indeed, among her friendship group, I’m told Kosovan businessman Dugi is regarded as a heartthrob, with some of the singer’s pals describing him a ‘DILF’ – somewhat crudely meaning ‘Dad I’d Like to ****’.

For Dugi, his appearance on such a momentous night for his daughter was more than just a chance to model a sharp suit, however.

I’m told he wanted to send another message – that he is ‘ruthlessly protective’ of his daughter, especially when it comes to her very lucrative career.

Dua, 30, is Britain’s most successful female pop star, with a reported fortune of around £90million. Music industry sources say Dugi micro-manages everything she does professionally, and ensures he is at her side as much as possible. Only now he has some competition – his daughter’s new husband.

Dua Lipa and Callum Turner married last Sunday in a low-key ceremony at Marylebone Town Hall

When Dua Lipa was invited to open the 2024 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, it was her beloved father Dukagjin taking her arm on the red carpet

Callum escorts his new wife during their lavish celebrations in Palermo, Sicily, on Friday

Last Sunday the couple married at Marylebone Town Hall in London, after two years of dating.

The ceremony, during which Dugi gave his daughter away, preceded a lavish three-day extravaganza in the idyllic city of Palermo, Sicily. Not that locals are impressed. Posters declaring ‘Palermo is not for rent’ were plastered across the city after a ring of steel went up around a square where the celebration will be marked with a cocktail reception.

On Thursday night guests, who are staying at the £1,000-a-night Villa Igiea hotel, were treated to a party on board a yacht.

And yesterday Dua and Callum hosted a no-expense-spared party at the historic Galleria d’Arte Moderna.

The bride stunned in a custom-made Bottega Veneta gown. Her handbag was also by the designer. She accessorised with Bulgari jewellery, including their iconic £185,000 Manchette watch. Turner wore a beige suit by LA designer Jacques Marie Mage. But tonight is the big event, when the pair will throw a huge bash at the Villa Valguarnera venue, some 12 miles east of Palermo.

There are rumours Sir Elton John – a close friend of Dua’s – will perform tonight.

Judging by the ecstatic look on both Dua and Callum’s faces as they descended the town hall steps last week, this is a love match.

But the question among those in the singer’s inner circle is whether there can possibly be room in the marriage for Dua’s charismatic and confident father. Like any proud dad, Dugi – who has been married to Dua’s mother, Anesa, for over 30 years – will almost certainly be front and centre at this weekend’s events.

But going forward, associates of the couple predict that Dugi will want to maintain a key position in his daughter’s life.

Some even suggest that there could be a power struggle between Callum and ‘Daddy Lipa’ for influence over the singer.

‘She’s a global megastar, but Dugi is the head of the family and everyone around them knows it. He is ruthless and he is ridiculously protective of Dua,’ says a source. ‘She’s worth millions and millions, and he prides himself on being in control of that. Barely a decision is made about Dua without him having the ultimate say. He’s on her arm whenever he can be.

‘He may like Callum, and be happy to see his daughter marrying someone so successful in his own right, but Callum is going to have to fall into line with her dad if he wants to keep things plain sailing.

‘He’s a tough character, but Callum is no shrinking violet either. He’s prepared to stand up for himself and can be hardcore too, so it will be very interesting to see whether there is room for both of them when it comes to Dua’s career. Watch this space.’

I can personally attest to what a strong character Callum is.

In June 2024, I watched Dua perform as the headline act on the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury. Afterwards, she was accused of miming by some watching on their televisions at home.

The bride wore a custom Bottega Veneta gown for their no-expense-spared party at the historic Galleria d’Arte Moderna

One source who called Dugi the ‘head of the family’ added that he is ‘ruthless’ and ‘ridiculously protective of Dua’

The following day, I spotted her in the VIP bar and approached her to say how sorry I was for the abuse and offered her the opportunity to have her say on the matter through a chat with me for the Daily Mail. She was friendly and thanked me profusely for asking – and insisted that she had been singing on stage.

However, as the conversation ended, Callum squared up to me and in no uncertain terms, told me to leave.

Minutes later, one of his friends came to find me to hurl the vilest four-letter insult possible. While Callum was rude, it was clear that he – like his father-in-law – is very protective of the singer. Dua released her debut album in 2017, which included the hit Be the One, and a sensational rise to fame followed. Her music-loving father, who was the lead singer and guitarist for Kosovan rock band Oda, was certainly a creative influence. He played music non-stop at home, which prompted Dua to begin singing herself aged just five.

Dugi has also joined his daughter on stage. Back in 2018, they surprised Dua’s fans by performing a duet at the Sunny Hill festival in Kosovo. But despite Dugi’s centrality to every element of Dua’s career now, her journey to stardom began without her father’s business input. It was only three years ago that Dugi embedded himself in his daughter’s commercial activities, in what was described as an ‘audacious move’.

Dua had a long-standing contractual agreement with her managers, who had discovered her aged 17 while she was working as a waitress in a central London nightclub, which entitled them to 20 per cent of her income.

But in 2023, Kosovan-Albanian Dugi axed Dua’s management team and installed himself in their place. His takeover prompted a legal battle with TaP Management, whose co-founder Ben Mawson was responsible for Dua’s record deals.

Dugi’s putsch led to furious legal wrangles over future royalties, as well as Dua’s valuable publishing rights, which control the use of her music for commercial purposes.

The resulting fallout saw the two sides fight for many months before settling out of court, with Dua and Dugi agreeing to continue paying royalties for an undisclosed period of time after the separation.

A further settlement 18 months later saw father and daughter agree a ‘multi-million pound’ financial agreement to buy back her publishing rights.

One industry insider explained: ‘TaP were furious. They’d thrown millions of pounds behind a total unknown because they believed they could make her into a star.

‘They bankrolled everything, including several flops before it finally exploded, and secured Dua’s first hit New Rules, which had originally been written for Little Mix. They had taken all the risks, so felt strongly that they deserved to be a part of the reward, but Dugi was having none of it.

‘It got pretty messy for a while but Dugi was not backing down. He wanted the right deal for his daughter – and, of course, for him.’

It was a ruthless move, but it would prove a shrewd one.

The newlyweds were spotted taking their dogs for a stroll in London the day after tying the knot

After showing her managers the door, Dugi also became a director of his daughter’s business, changing its name from Dua Lipa Ltd to Radical 22 Ltd. Latest official accounts, signed by Dugi, reveal astonishing financial success – with turnover in the last financial year of £23,258,097, profits of £19million and cash reserves in their bank account totalling £22,337,182.

It’s quite the victory for Dugi, who had previously run a marketing agency in Pristina, Kosovo, after studying at the Chartered Institute of Marketing and later at a communications college, where he wrote a dissertation about political marketing campaigns.

On his LinkedIn profile he describes himself as an ‘experienced professional with a proven track record of delivering practical, cost-efficient solutions’.

Industry insiders tell me he is known for a ‘ruthless streak’.

Indeed, his manoeuvring has ensured that 100 per cent of Dua’s sizeable earnings now remain within their family. He has also overseen a series of corporate off-shoots to further monetise his daughter’s brand.

These include an online lifestyle brand, Service95, which has seen Dua promote products and services through the digital platform.

Now, though, Callum is the main man in Dua’s life – and, as one source tells me: ‘Dugi has met his match with him.’

Known for his ambitious nature and currently enjoying his own career surge, multiple reports have said Callum is in the frame to become the next James Bond.

He modelled for Next and Reebok before his first acting role in a low-budget film, Think of England, in 2010. He went on to star in BBC and ITV dramas before graduating to films, with his breakthrough coming in Harry Potter spin-off Fantastic Beasts.

Born in Hammersmith, west London, Callum grew up with his single mother, Rose, a nightclub promoter, on the tough World’s End council estate.

Now, the future of the newlyweds looks to be a highly lucrative one. The pair live in West Hampstead – a favourite celebrity haunt in north-west London where they’re regularly spotted walking their dog Golo.

Dua has secured planning permission for an extensive basement at the couple’s home, alongside a rear extension, having paid £6.75million for the property

in 2020. The period home will feature a pool, cinema, music studio and at least five bedrooms. ‘Plenty of room for babies,’ says my source. ‘Children are very much predicted to be on the agenda. However, both of them have so much on, their friends joke they are the ultimate power couple.’

It remains to be seen whether there’s room in this powerful partnership for Daddy Lipa, too.