Alia Bhatt: The Unstoppable Force of Bollywood

When you think of actor Alia Bhatt, you think of a born performer, an artiste, who is beyond just a star. As her Bollywood godfather Karan Johar says — she is a work of art — a seamless mix of versatility and relatability. Both her on-screen and off-screen personalities are well-followed by audiences, co-actors and directors worldwide. In just a decade of her career, Alia has not only evolved into a powerhouse performer, captivating audiences with her incredible range and versatility, but has also inspired aspiring actors and fans with her journey.
Alia’s acting prowess is evident in her ability to seamlessly transition between diverse roles. From the spirited Shanaya Singh in Student of the Year (2012) to the complex Sehmat Syed in Raazi (2018), she has consistently delivered compelling performances that showcase her range and depth. Her portrayal of Safina in Gully Boy (2019) and the undisputed titular role in Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022) were particularly noteworthy, serving as a trove of some of Alia’s spectacular performances. Her ability to embody characters so seamlessly is a testament to her almost shape-shifting flamboyance.
India Today digital spoke to director Imtiaz Ali, who saw Alia beyond her age and experience and offered her one of the most intense films of her career – Highway. It was Alia’s second film after the candy floss drama – Student of The Year – and Alia proved how she was there to stay with her performance in the film. Imtiaz agreed.
The filmmaker praised her admiration for life and her profound sense of self. He noted that this maturity and understanding were remarkable given her age at that time. When asked about a favourite memory of the actor, Imtiaz exclusively told us: “I remember travelling with Alia once through Haryana and Punjab in a small bus. One time, I found her sitting alone, gazing out the window. It had been a week or two on the road, and I asked what she had observed about rural India.”
The director added that Alia’s answer totally surprised him and showed her depth as a thinking human being. Imtiaz shared, “She remarked that only women seemed to be working in the fields and villages, which surprised her—she had expected men to be the primary workers. Her keen observation struck me. Despite being so young, Alia had an old soul and a big heart. Working with her was truly unforgettable.”
From Highway to now, Alia has never chosen a film which didn’t bring something new to the table. With her latest film Jigra, she doesn’t just broaden her horizons in acting, but also forays into production. From portraying a daughter, lover, rebel, social activist cum sex worker, to now a resilient sister, Alia acts like a super-woman, who can be anything and everything. The 33-year-old has quite literally got this incredible screen presence that almost sucks you right in, and you are hardly able to take your eyes off her!
The popular actor recently reflected upon how she uses emotions from her personal life to enhance her performance on-screen. Referring to Jigra, in which she plays a protective sister to her younger brother, Alia revealed that she used her emotions as a mother and brought a certain sense of depth into her performance.
“Obviously, nothing is easy. Every day on a film set is you, trying to make the day. Of course, we feel very grateful to be there because you love what you do. Nothing feels challenging or hard. And even if it is hard, it is enjoyable. When you’re talking about protection, I think what protection as a feeling is when you love somebody, whether you are younger than them, older than them or as old as them, you will want to protect them. No matter who they are”, she told India Today Digital at a recent press meet.
She continued, “And in my case, when I signed Jigra, it was just after I had Raha, so the protection was like bursting out of me. And I have to also give credit to the way the scenes are written so beautifully by Vasan (Bala) and Debashish.”
And is Alia, the actor, different from Alia, the producer? Jigra’s director, Vasan Bala, elaborated on the actor’s calibre as a producer. At the same press conference, he spoke to us and said, “As a producer, she is fiercely protective of her art. This film, like her daughter (Raha Kapoor), is very important to her, and she is fiercely protective of its core. It’s not like she has to score 100-on-100, but it is about how happy she is and how she makes sure that all her potential is used. And that is what I think she brought to the film also. Because of that, we felt very protected.”
Watch the trailer of Jigra here:

Beyond her acting prowess, Alia’s discerning film choices have significantly contributed to her success. She consistently challenges herself by taking on unconventional roles that shatter stereotypes. Her decision to star in Highway, a film that delved into the complexities of trauma and resilience, was a bold move that showcased a deeper dimension of Alia Bhatt. Similarly, her role in the Netflix film Darlings, was brought to life by her portrayal of Badrunissa.
Jasmeet Reen, who directed the dark comedy, told India Today Digital, “I have seen all her (Alia Bhatt) films, and she played some brilliant roles in Highway, Udta Punjab and Gully boy. Highway was her second film. To play such a character at that age is commendable. With Darlings, I just knew what she could bring to the table and I knew that she would take the character somewhere else.”
Such films have only proven that Alia is a director’s actor. Asked about her experience of working with her, Jasmeet promptly said, “She was an amazing collaborator and just pure brilliance.”
The filmmaker continued, “We spent a month before, where I used to tell her so much about the character and Alia is like a sponge. She is listening all the time. We did some readings before, but when she came on set, I just knew that whatever we discussed for months was completely heard, and she had some very powerful insights because she had started living the character. And she’s not a method actor, she’s spontaneous.”
She also said, “I think Alia is a chameleon. She just becomes the character. And the casting happened purely because of her talent. She surrenders completely to the film and director because she wants to stay authentic to the film. I could not have found a better Badrunissa.”
Watch a clip of Darlings here:

Echoing that thought, filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansal, while speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, mentioned how Alia reacted when offered Gangubai Kathiawadi. “How do you tap into an actor who says, ‘I didn’t know I could play the brothel madam. I didn’t know I had a lower pitch, I didn’t know I had to stand there and do that. I’ve started enjoying it sir.’ And she just flew into the role. She, even today, sometimes talks like Gangubai. It’s so much a part of it. It’s so beautiful to have believed in her, to have tapped into her”, he said,
The film went on to earn Alia her first National Film Award.
Even with such an illustrious career, there are days when she is dismissed as nothing more than a nepotism baby. When asked about being perceived as someone who was handed opportunities on a silver platter, Alia told India Today digital in an old interview, “The biggest misconception is that I’ve been sort of given all my movies just placed and presented to me on a silver platter, or I have asked for it. I totally don’t agree with it, and I also don’t understand how anyone can even say those things, because anybody who is in the business or has been a part of the business will know that you cannot survive even 17 minutes without being hard-working.”
Despite all the negative noise, Alia keeps her head down, works, and puts efforts into everything – right from making her independent choices to performing her characters like a phoenix. The actor shared how taking this success for granted was never an option. She told us, “I know the number of sleepless nights I have had or the number of cuts, bruises, and aches I have endured during the process. It has been 10 years, and I have given my blood, sweat, and tears to the process of filmmaking throughout my career. I don’t think it is possible to survive these many years in the industry or any industry without hard work.”
Alia is above and beyond. She has not just opened up new possibilities for herself in the film industry but has also refused to be labelled or boxed-up by stereotypes. She will next be seen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love and War, co-starring her actor-husband, Ranbir Kapoor, and Vicky Kaushal.
Alia has got so much on her plate and there are so many horizons that she’s yet to widen. But, even with all of that, it seems she’s just getting started!