Just a decade ago, Alia Bhatt was a meme. Almost everyone on cyberstreet who could type had an opinion about her. For a long time she was the nincompoop nepo-kid who couldn’t even name the President of India in 2013. She was ruthlessly ridiculed and trolled for everything she said during those times. Her cinematic success did not stop the trolling. It was always “Alia, but...” Unfortunately, unlike Jane Fonda, who was trolled for her activism against the Vietnam War and dubbed “Hanoi Jane” or Emma Watson, who was targeted for her comments on social and political issues, it was Alia’s silliness and ignorance that made her the butt of jokes.
But it takes more to keep a good woman down. Alia Bhatt let her acting speak. And speak it did. Hers has been a patient but powerful journey. While her privileged background as the daughter of filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt and actress Soni Razdan may have given her the freedom to make bold decisions, her dedication and commitment to her roles were evident in the films she chose. She portrayed women with opinions, ambition, independence, and intent, often challenging Bollywood’s traditional gender roles and expectations. She has played characters who are complex, imperfect, and unafraid to be unlikeable, making her portrayals of the modern Indian woman relatable and nuanced. In this essay, Ishita Sengupta, a film critic and culture writer, tracks the making of Alia Bhatt, the feminist actor.
Enjoy the read and write back with your comments. Meanwhile, also catch latest Alia Bhatt’s latest, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, and tell us if you agree with what our culture vulture Prathyush Parasuraman felt about it.
Have a great week ahead,
Team Frontline
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