Glass speaks to British-Indian actress ALIA BHATT about her Gucci ambassadorship, authenticity in cinema and what keeps her grounded
From Autumn Issue 55
“It’s very difficult for me to make small talk or be manicured and social. To me, either have a real conversation or don’t have a conversation,” Alia Bhatt begins.
The cinematic phenomenon coming from India is the epitome of healthy opinions. After all, whether it’s Hollywood or Bollywood we’re talking about, they both take their toll on an actor’s persona.
But it’s all in good spirits for the 30-year-old Bhatt. After all, she’s a cultural icon. And one that is in complete denial about the influence she wields. In this day and age, it doesn’t make much of a difference where you started your career. It used to be that Hollywood was everyone’s magnum opus and Bollywood just made everyone happy. But now the lines are blurred.
Photographer: Lea Winkler
“I don’t think there should be a difference,” says Bhatt. “At the end of the day, in any industry, it’s just a bunch of people coming together. To have one vision materialise and come to life is the same all over the world. It’s just the language that changes,” she declares confidently on our long-distance call from New York.
Bhatt is a pillar of artistic credibility in India. This year, she’s set to branch out into Hollywood with the release of Heart of Stone alongside Jamie Dornan and Gal Gadot. Bhatt has won five Filmfare awards (the Indian equivalent of the Oscar). Recognising her international appeal (including 79.3 million followers on Instagram), the Academy inducted her into its 2020 class as an official member.
Photographer: Lea Winkler
In 2022 alone, she starred in four feature-length films that have received international praise. She played the lead role of Isha in Brahmastra Part One: Shiva, the first Indian film to launch its own cinematic universe, the Astraverse. Gangubai Kathiawadi, in which she played the title role, had its world premiere at a Berlinale gala screening.
A box office success, it was the No.11 non-English film and the No.1 film in 25 countries on Netflix globally. RRR, in which she was one of the leads, was among the biggest Indian hits of the year and went on to win an Oscar and a Golden Globe.
Photographer: Lea Winkler
To say that she’s been a busy bee would be an understatement. As I list the above to Bhatt, she laughs humbly, as if she’s not even aware of her own impact. To add even more to her plate, she has also recently become a mother. So how does she keep it all together?
“There was this question I remember when I was interacting with a couple of fans,” the actress begins. “A young girl asked me ‘how do you keep it all together? How are you always so happy? How are you always so positive? How do you do it?’ And I was, like, who told you that I keep it all together? My happiness and positivity and what I project as a person is my choice. I choose to focus on the good. I choose to focus on what’s right as opposed to what’s wrong,” she adds confidently.
“That doesn’t mean things aren’t wrong. It doesn’t mean I don’t have difficult days. You are constantly evolving as a person and your mind is constantly evolving. There’s so much pressure to be happy.”
Photographer: Lea Winkler
Not only is Bhatt level-headed and self-aware, but she’s also setting a prime example to young women worldwide in terms of both career and outlook. Bhatt is gentle, yet very focused. The industry brought her perspective and motherhood changed her. “It’s so funny because I write my daughter emails. I started doing this the month that she was born,” she explains.
“I send her pictures. It’s like I’m trying to create a life book for her. I created an email ID and I write to her. And recently I found myself writing her an email and I said ‘I’m not one to tell you what to do. Even as your mother, I want you to be your own person. The only thing I wish for you is to be kind and work hard. No matter what you do in life. Work hard on yourself, work hard on your relationships, work hard on your career. And just go through the day being kind.
That’s the only thing I say. No matter how terrible a day you are having, just be kind to people because you don’t know where anyone else is coming from’. It’s something that actually goes way back into Indian scriptures. There’s a certain way that you conduct yourself. You should always treat people the way you want to be treated. That’s the only thing I will say. And I feel like a lot of that gets lost.”
Photographer: Lea Winkler
For a woman who champions kindness and hard work, what’s her take on authenticity? After all, as a newly appointed Gucci ambassador she must have spent some time ruminating on both personal values and what she intends to project into the role.
“I don’t think authenticity should be in relation to another person. If you can sit down with yourself, by yourself and just be okay and comfortable there in that position, in that spot, you have won at life.”
Photographer: Lea Winkler
On a roll, she continues: “You know, I genuinely feel like honesty is overrated, especially when you’re a public figure and you’re putting your opinions out there. It’s overrated. Sometimes if you’re not making the situation better, then just don’t say anything. If you’re making it better, then by all means please carry on. To me, that’s where authenticity comes from, just being able to be yourself first. Then you can focus on what you want in the world. But first, start with being able to be with yourself.”
Photographer: Lea Winkler
With a cult following, there’s a certain responsibility that comes with the message that she wants to put out there. So, what does Bhatt want to transmit to people? From her own experiences and her cultural heritage, it seems like she’s keen on teaching people on how to be human again.
“The strongest connection that we have is our instinct, that gut feeling that comes from within. Allow yourself to make mistakes such as a typo, a bad fashion choice, a bad fight that you had with your loved one and the wrong things that you said. Those are mistakes, those are things that you maybe don’t like about yourself. Allow yourself to make that mistake.
The way you allow it is to not fight it, and to take the onus of responsibility and say ‘I’m sorry I made a mistake. I was not able to ace that exam’. But it’s also connected to your instinct. Maybe you didn’t ace the exam because you’re not really into that subject. So it’s okay. Allow yourself to fail.”
