It’s 8 a.m. in Mumbai, and Alia Bhatt is navigating both the city’s traffic and a full schedule of film shoots, Zoom calls, and parenting. As her car threads its way through the chaos en route to the set of her upcoming spy thriller Alpha, she’s multitasking effortlessly—evidence of the exact precision that has helped her ascend to the top of Indian cinema.
On the other side of the world, in New York City, I watch her via screen from my apartment, a world away from the flashing cameras and frenzied glamour that follow Bhatt. Still, in conversation, she is disarmingly grounded, radiating the confidence of someone who has, finally, grown into her own skin.
Bhatt, now 31, has become one of India’s most celebrated actors and a true global icon. A rare combination of megastar allure and intimate relatability, she was the only woman among the top five Indian celebrities with the highest brand value in 2024, holding her own against names like Shah Rukh Khan and Virat Kohli. But she doesn’t let the numbers define her.
“I don’t think I ever overestimate or underestimate my value,” she says. “I feel a lot of good decisions and good people who have been part of my journey have led me here.”
Bhatt’s journey has evolved with both grit and grace. From Gangubai Kathiawadi—where she portrayed a 1960s sex worker fighting for justice and earned a National Film Award—to RRR, a global smash that won an Oscar for Best Original Song, her work balances emotional heft with mass appeal. She’s not afraid to take risks, nor to wield her star power with intent.
More Than a Muse: A Modern Beauty Icon
Her influence has moved far beyond film. With over 85 million Instagram followers, Bhatt’s visibility has reshaped what Indian beauty looks like on the global stage. In 2023, she became Gucci’s first Indian global ambassador. In 2024, she joined L’Oréal Paris as its face in India, marking a milestone in an industry still slow to embrace South Asian representation at scale.
Now in her 30s, Bhatt says the partnership arrived at a moment of personal clarity. “In your 20s, everything is chaotic. You want to say yes to everything,” she reflects. “In your 30s, you build your cocoon. You know what you want—and what you won’t accept.”
She’s particularly drawn to L’Oréal’s legacy of long-standing relationships. “I told them, ‘You’re known for loyalty—and I’m monogamous,’” she laughs.
Redefining Strength, Onscreen and Off
Bhatt has long gravitated toward characters that subvert expectations—strong, flawed, complicated women. In 2022, she added “producer” to her résumé with Darlings, a Netflix film that tackled domestic abuse with dark comedy and sharp sensitivity.
That same year, she became a mother to her daughter, Raha. “She’s naughty, she’s bright, she’s her own person,” Bhatt beams. “My biggest challenge now is finding time—how to ping-pong between work, motherhood, and some semblance of self-care.”
Motherhood, she admits candidly, is a constant mix of fulfillment and anxiety. “There’s this deep soul-level joy, but also fear. You want to do it right.” Still, she holds fast to a philosophy passed down from her parents: “Your children come through you, but they’re not yours. Their life is theirs.”
That protective maternal instinct bleeds into her next film, Jigra, which she co-produced. A sibling-centered thriller, the role resonated strongly after giving birth. “I was in tigress mode. I needed to protect my cub.”
Style That Speaks—From Screen to Sari
Whether at the Met Gala or a Mumbai wedding, Bhatt’s fashion choices make headlines. Her mint-green, 23-foot-train sari at the 2024 Met Gala, hand-embroidered with gems, honored Indian craftsmanship on a global stage. “I feel most comfortable in a sari,” she says. “It’s breathable, glamorous, and timeless.”
This sentiment mirrors her wardrobe in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, where she wore only saris to modernize the traditional silhouette. The chiffon styles designed with Manish Malhotra sold out within minutes online, reigniting a generational love for Indian fashion.
A Beauty Standard of Her Own
When asked how she defines beauty, Bhatt doesn’t hesitate: “It’s how you perceive yourself. You project what you believe you are.” For her, quick, effective routines win. “I have ADD—I need it done fast,” she laughs, recalling how she insisted on a 45-minute makeup session even on her wedding day. “I told my artist, ‘I want to chill, not sit for two hours!’”
The conversation naturally turns to traditional South Asian beauty rituals—turmeric masks, castor oil, and kajal-lined eyes. “We invented the smoky eye!” she exclaims, crediting India’s long history of bold, expressive eye makeup. “There’s such a richness in our traditions.”
Owning Her Story
Though born into a family of filmmakers—her father Mahesh Bhatt and mother Soni Razdan—Alia carved her own path. Her breakout role in Student of the Year at 18 came with extreme pressure, including a crash-course in image transformation. “I was chubby and happy before I started training. And then... everything changed.”
She opens up about her long battle with body image. “No matter how much weight I lost, I’d still feel like that ‘fat kid.’” But pregnancy altered her mindset: “I had so much respect for my body. I promised I’d never be hard on myself again for a bloated belly or a few extra kilos.”
Two decades and over 20 films later, Bhatt continues to chart her course by intuition. “This is me,” she says plainly. “And this is why.”
