Alia Bhatt opens up on scrutiny she faced along with fame: ‘You can’t not pay the price that comes with it’

Actor Alia Bhatt has opened up about the scrutiny that she had to face along with fame. In a new interview, Alia recalled telling herself that she knew she wanted to be really good at acting and be extremely celebrated at it. The actor also told herself that she ‘can’t not want and not pay the price that comes with it’. Alia also revealed how conversations about an actor’s look ‘took a bit of a toll’ on her. (Also Read | Alia Bhatt reveals how she would feel if her daughter wants to become an actor)

Alia made her acting debut as an adult with Karan Johar’s teen film Student of the Year (2012). She then featured in Highway, 2 States, Badrinath Ki Dulhania, Dear Zindagi, Udta Punjab, Raazi, Gully Boy, Gangubai Kathiawadi and Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva among many others.

Speaking with Marie Claire, Alia said, “There are moments when you feel a bit overwhelmed with the attention and the volume of conversation around your life. But the only thing I’ve had to tell myself is: You knew you wanted to become an actor, and that you wanted to be really good at it, and you wanted to be extremely celebrated. Then you can’t not want—and not pay—the price that comes with it. You can’t have your cake and eat it, too. There are in-between [times when] I would like to maybe vanish and disappear. There’s a lot of good stuff that happens from this attention, from this limelight, as well.”

Alia also said, “I entered the industry at the age of 17. And you hear conversations around you pertaining to the way you should look. You think that’s the way it’s supposed to be. And it took a bit of a toll on me in terms of my obsession with my body and my weight. It’s taken me a lot of work, but I’m in the best place that I’ve ever been with regards to that. And now I’m pregnant and, actually, I’ve never felt more comfortable and more happy and more at peace [with my body].”

Alia will be next seen in director Karan Johar’s Rocky aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani. The film also features Dharmendra, Shabana Azmi, Jaya Bachchan and Ranveer Singh. The film will release on April 28, 2023. Fans will also see Alia in her Hollywood debut, Heart of Stone. Helmed by Tom Harper, the upcoming action thriller also features Gal Gadot and Jamie Dornon.