Flashback to 2012: a sea of 400 aspiring actresses queued up for Karan Johar’s youthful drama ‘Student of the Year.’ Among them was Alia Bhatt, daughter of filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, proving that even star kids must earn their spotlight.
Karan Johar has often shared this anecdote, highlighting Alia’s standout audition. Despite the stiff competition, her natural charisma caught his eye immediately. ‘She had that special something,’ Johar noted, but he didn’t hold back on guidance: shed some pounds to fit the role’s vibe. Alia took it to heart, slimming down dramatically over three months and nailing her screen test with dialogues borrowed from ‘Wake Up Sid.’
The recommendation came via Johar’s friend Niranjan Iyengar, who tipped him off about the talented teen. Impressed from the first take, Johar greenlit her debut. The film smashed records at the box office, catapulting Alia into stardom.
Her filmography reads like a masterclass in range: from bubbly romances in the Dulhania series to intense roles in ‘Highway’ and ‘Udta Punjab,’ critically acclaimed turns in ‘Raazi’ and ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’—both fetching National Awards—and crowd-pleasers like ‘Gully Boy,’ ‘Brahmastra,’ and ‘Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani.’ She’s also ventured into production with ‘Darlings’ under Eternal Sunshine Productions.
Balancing a thriving career, marriage to Ranbir Kapoor, and motherhood to daughter Raha, Alia Bhatt remains one of Bollywood’s most bankable and beloved stars, a testament to perseverance over privilege.