Madhureeta Mukherjee (BOMBAY TIMES; May 24, 2019)

The list of The Times 50 Most Desirable Women 2018 has been unveiled! India has voted and made their choice. The ranking is based on votes cast in an online poll (on www.toi.in/mostdesirablewomen), along with an internal jury. The list has women across various fields and industries. From newcomers, who have made a splash with their sex appeal, attitude and talent, to those who have been making news for the right reasons — these are the most stunning and dropdead gorgeous women in the country. Alia Bhatt grabs the top spot this year. At 26, the actress is considered a powerhouse of talent, not only by her contemporaries, but thespians of the film industry. Last year, this youth icon impressed the audience in the spy thriller Raazi, a film that went on to win awards and accolades. And, of course, she won a lot of love from people all over when at the Filmfare Awards this year, she openly declared her love for Ranbir Kapoor. Here’s what she had to say about winning the coveted title this year...

Congratulations on topping the Times 50 Most Desirable Women’s list (2018). What are your thoughts on being on the top spot?
Thank you! I never thought that I would be given this title, of the ‘Most Desirable’. I don’t know what makes me desirable, but I think that you find someone desirable when you like the person’s personality as a whole. Most importantly, it is about liking the person for who they are. Recently, I was reading a fan letter; I usually try and make time to read all my fan mails and respond to them. I was reading one letter, which said, ‘I love you not because you are a celebrity, but because you are a good human being, and we can see that’. For me, that is the most important thing, the fact that there are people who understand my personality. I believe that I am transparent, and it is great if people can see it. If people believe my personality is desirable, there is nothing like it.

Do you think desirability has anything to do with a person’s relationship status, age, et al? There are some people who are forever desirable. Your thoughts?
I don’t think your relationship status or age has got anything to do with being desirable. When people talk about the ‘X-factor’, I think it is that thing which you express through your eyes and people can see it through your eyes and soul. That is what attracts people towards you and makes you desirable.

Given that you have played some strong roles, which have had an impact on the audience’s minds, do you think that people often view you through the lens of the characters you have played?
Yes, that is possible. I have played so many different characters, so I have so many different souls, and each of them has a different X-factor (laughs!).

Who, according to you, is the Most Desirable Man and Most Desirable Woman you know?
I would say that Kareena Kapoor Khan is my all time favourite, and among men, Ranbir Kapoor is the Most Desirable Man. To me, they both are eternally desirable.