‘Alia Bhatt is self-made, ambitious unlike Ranbir Kapoor who is laidback,' says Mahesh Bhatt: ‘She has changed, matured after welcoming Raha'
Alia's father, veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, also believes his daughter is 'self-made.' 'I didn't launch Alia Bhatt. Karan Johar launched her. I didn't know she had so much thirst for acting in her. She gave the audition herself. I just got to know they loved her work. I was shocked because I hadn't seen any such traits in her even remotely. I'm very happy she's a self-made girl,' said Mahesh.
On The Himanshu Mehta Show, the filmmaker further revealed that the young generation today approach her for pictures only to flaunt that they met Alia Bhatt's father. 'Alia has astounded me! What is unique about her is that she has a taste for taking risks and she's taken the detours into diverse narratives,' added Mahesh.
Alia's father also pointed out that she's gone through 'an alchemical change' after the birth of her daughter Raha Kapoor in 2022. 'I see a new depth in her. With this young girl becoming a mother, there's a coming-of-age of a different kind, a different kind of maturity in her. I'm also looking forward to her new films which would be coming out now,' said Mahesh.
Alia will be next seen headlining Shiv Rawail's spy thriller Alpha, which is a part of Aditya Chopra's YRF Spy Universe. Backed by Yash Raj Films, it's slated to release in cinemas this Christmas on December 25. Next year, Alia will also star alongside real-life husband Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal in Bhansali's romantic drama Love & War.
Mahesh Bhatt also revealed that even Ranbir is in awe of Alia. 'He says, 'Alia is made of different stuff.' When I ask him, 'What do you mean?,' he says, 'Her ambition to do more and more and more is unbelievably astounding!' While he's a person who's very laid-back and comforted, and he just wants to do enough. She's a go-getter,' added Mahesh.
Also Read — Alia Bhatt likes people watching to cheer herself up on bad days: 'I'm not looking into their bedrooms, but..'
The filmmaker agreed that while there are talented nepo babies like Alia and Ranbir, one can't deny the merit that the discussion around nepotism holds. 'Nature is very fair. It's not important that the rose would bloom in only your garden. Nature spreads its jewels across the world. Nepotism is a reality, but it's also not. Just because my child is talented, that doesn't mean I disqualify them,' argued Mahesh.
'But it's definitely easy for them. Because access is success. Talented people don't even get access for years. It's important to understand that the voice that's been raised against nepotism, there's a collective anger behind that. That's why we get to hear about that every other day,' added Mahesh Bhatt.
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When I met Karan in the office, he thought I had a very interesting face so he offered me Student of the Year. I took it up even though I was digressing from my dream of being a director. Because me being an actor and facing the camera in my debut film really helped me direct Ibrahim when he was debuting. But the minute that was over, my focus went back to being the director. Then I AD'd on Bombay Talkies (2013) and Lust Stories (2018). I was Karan sir's associate on Takht, which never got made. And then I directed Ankahee and Sarzameen. Let's put it this way — I'm now a retired actor and a full-time director. There's a parallel between Ankahee and Sarzameen — of parents dealing with a disabled child differently. There's the mother (Shefali Shah, Kajol) asking the father (Tota Roy Chowdhury, Prithviraj) to understand their child instead of judging them. Do you know where does this theme come from? There's nothing unhappy in my household, I've to tell you first (laughs). I love interpersonal stories. One of my favourite films is Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015). It has a large canvas and political messaging, but it's the story of a father and figuratively his daughter. It chokes me. I don't cry in life, but I cry at the movies. If you give me any subject, I get very excited by the family conflict. You'll think of Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013) as a friendship story, or Argo (2012) as a thriller, but I love the father-son stories in them because they're the soul of those films. It's not just father-son or family, but the human emotions which make the audience connect to the story. You and your father Boman Irani turned directors in the same year. He directed The Mehta Boys, also a turbulent father-son story. Then he also popped up in a small role in your directorial debut. Do you exchange notes as filmmakers back at home? Hundred percent. I read him the script and showed him the edit and he gave me feedback, and vice-versa. We are a full filmy family. My dad and I've grown up on cinema. We used to watch movies together on DVD. After watching, we'd start the movie again with the director's commentary to learn. We're a united team because we both see cinema as a temple. It's given us so much that we have to give it that respect. We're a very united family. I live alone in Bandra. My parents live in Dadar. Four times a week, I'm at their home having dinner. We sit in the living room and we chat, laugh, gossip, and reminisce. We discuss food and films. It's my happy place. My father is my lucky charm. I have to have him in all my films. This isn't a role he would've ordinarily done, but I gave him no choice here. Also Read — Sarzameen: Ibrahim Ali Khan's terrible film accidentally gets you to root for a terrorist to kill a soldier, and you can't even deny it You've been trying your hand at direction for 15 years. But like you, your father is a late bloomer. He became a film actor at 45 and a director at 65. Does his journey give you confidence to stay at it? My father started as a waiter at the Taj Mahal Hotel. He then became a shopkeeper selling wafers, then a photographer, then into theatre. He reluctantly joined movies. It wasn't something he was trying for. But what I take away from him is the man he is, not so much his achievements. In Sarzameen, there's a line that says, 'Maa se jitna bhi pyaar mile, banna wo apne baap jaisa hi chahta hai' (No matter how much love a mother can give, a son wants to be like his father). And that's very true for me. Finally, even after being launched as an actor and a director by Karan Johar's Dharma Productions, and being Boman Irani's son, how has the tag of nepotism evaded you so far? I suspected it'd happen after the release, but it hasn't. But I've worked very hard and paid my dues. The first day of my shoot, I was given a jhadu (broom) and I swept the floor at Yash Raj Studio. I didn't take anything lightly. Having said that, am I product of nepotism? Yes. Did doors open for me more easily? Yes. But now, it's my job to walk into that door and make it on my own. The audience decides what I do next. Also, I know Karan gets the brickbats for nepotism, but he's launched most first-time directors ever, and none of them come from nepotism.
