Alia Bhatt, who made her successful debut in the Hindi film industry a decade ago with Karan Johar’s Student of the Year, is now one of the country’s leading stars. Alia has established herself as a leading lady, having appeared in films such as Raazi, Highway, Gully Boy, Udta Punjab, and the most recent Gangubai Kathiawadi directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali.
Alia Bhatt, a fan favourite among critics and audiences alike, is making her directorial debut with the upcoming Netflix film Darlings. Red Chillies Entertainment, owned by superstar Shah Rukh Khan, is co-producing the film.
Alia discusses nepotism
“It’s one of my topmost endevours to back new talent. And, of course, if the content pitched is good, we will put our weight behind it.”
Alia’s Hollywood project
“I didn’t have to put on an accent, and I’m not dressed in some ethnic patchwork clothes because I’m an Indian girl. Everyone wants India, and Hollywood wants a piece of it.”
Alia on celebrity pay
“I agree that the salaries of the stars should be balanced against the film’s budget. But I’m not the one to tell anyone how much they should charge, kyunki main toh choti hun.”
Alia’s thoughts on being in the spotlight
“I’ve never felt the need to flee, and I’ve been one of those people who has faced random hatred, particularly online. But after a certain point, none of that matters. It has little effect on me. It’s a free country, after all, and anyone can say whatever they want. So I can’t say things like, “mere ko bura lag raha hai, bura lag raha hai to dessert khao.””
Alia on what it takes to be a star
“What makes someone a star? It’s the love, but there’s also a type of star who will make money at the box office. But that cannot happen now without content; ultimately, it is the power of content that draws audiences to theatres. Of course, there is a larger-than-life experience on the big screen that cannot be replaced, but the depth of good content that stands the test of time is something people should and do seek. So stardom is determined by the content you provide to the public.”
Alia on her most difficult experience
“Gangubai has been my most difficult role. I knew I had to play her completely from the heart, but I also had to play it from the frontfoot because we were also trying to entertain. Because we wanted her to reach a larger audience, which is extremely difficult, “stated the actor
Alia Bhatt on her method
“I honestly don’t have a procedure. I do the fundamentals of learning my lines, and you must be aware of this. I enjoy completely immersing myself in the lives of others. Being an actor is the most exciting part of my job. Even as a child, I was always in my head “Alia stated.
‘I love it when people think I’m dumb,’ says Alia Bhatt of the value of intelligence. I genuinely do because they make so many memes about me, which increases my popularity. But since you enjoy my films, I must be doing something right in the film industry. I could be wrong about the other side. I also want to send this message to young girls, and I don’t mean this in an offensive way, but general knowledge and bookish intelligence are not intelligence in my opinion. To survive in this world, you must have emotional intelligence, which I consider to be the highest form of intelligence,’ said the actor.