After a year of some surprising highs and lows, the film industry is stepping into the New Year with hope and promise. However, the year gone by gave a few Bollywood actors a reason to rejoice and celebrate. Alia Bhatt is one actor who owned and conquered 2022. Having proved her mettle as an artiste many times over, 2022 was an extremely special year for Alia for more reasons than one. In a year that saw the mighty fail, Alia set the screen on fire with her feisty portrayal of Gangubai Kathiawadi. And she was only getting started. Next, she was seen in S S Rajamouli’s RRR, which went on to become a mega box-office suceess, and followed it up with Ayan Mukerji’s ambitious Brahmastra and her first production, the highly acclaimed OTT movie, Darlings.

The year also saw her marrying her boyfriend and Hindi cinema’s acting powerhouse Ranbir Kapoor. The two were blessed with a baby girl (Raha). In her first exclusive interview after becoming a mother, Alia opens up on the best year of her life, what lies ahead, marriage, motherhood and more. Read on...

Professionally and personally, the year began on a high note for me. Nothing was a lot to handle, although every stage was surreal. The way 2022 unfolded for me, it felt like a movie. Be it Gangubai Kathiawadi, RRR or Brahmastra, there was a kind of build-up of many years and anticipation coming together, given my association with Sanjay Leela Bhansali sir, Rajamouli sir, my first film production Darlings and of course, Brahmastra, which was in the making for many years. Lots of hopes were attached to the year and whenever there’s hope, there’s room for heartbreak. If things don’t go right, your heart can crumble into pieces and you can’t prepare yourself for it. You can do everything as an actor, but eventually, it’s in the hands of the audience. For each film of mine to not only be appreciated but also generate a conversation, it’s a big moment of gratitude for me. At every point last year, I couldn’t believe that things were going so well! How nicely the tick marks were coming on my report card. At the end of the day, an actor’s career is a report card. You have to score good marks, and if you don’t, you feel bad, and you have to work harder.

There is no right or wrong in life. What works for me might not work for someone else. I have always listened to my heart. You can’t plan life. Life plans itself and you just have to follow that path. Whether it’s films or anything else, I always let my heart decide. Yes, at the peak of my career, I decided to get married and have a baby. But who says that marriage or motherhood will change anything to do with my work? Even if it does, so be it. I don’t care. I knew that in life, I would never regret the decision to have a baby. It’s a natural instinct. It’s the best decision that I have ever made. I have never been happier or more fulfilled. Every moment is more meaningful as a mother. Also, I believe in myself as an actor. If you work hard, are a good actor and if people want to work with you, aapke paas kaam aayega. And if work doesn’t come to you, then so be it. Maybe it’s not your time. I value my work a lot, but I also value my life beyond it, and I want to strike a balance between the two. Dil mein jo aata hai woh karo.

Totally. I am still the same person, but everything is different. Motherhood brings a completely new dimension to your life. Your priorities change. The word ‘responsibility’ holds a new meaning altogether. It’s the most vulnerable you can ever feel in life. Your heart opens fully.

When I was younger, I used to make resolutions, now I take each day as it comes. New Year always brings new energy. Kuch naya karna ho, accha karna ho, hum naye saal mein karte hai. Newness is always nice. For me, every day is a new day and a fresh beginning. I wonder how 2023 is going to live up to 2022! 2022 has been the best year of my life. I have two releases this coming year, so I am excited about them. I am excited to see my daughter grow up, see her facial expressions evolve and celebrate her first birthday in 2023.

Aisa kuch nahi hai. I will get back to work and brand commitments by the end of this month. Karan Johar’s Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani is slated to release in April 2023 and Farhan Akhtar’s Jee Le Zaraa will go on the floors. I am absolutely thrilled about these films.

I don’t believe in limiting myself unless there’s some physical limitation. I was pregnant, so yes, there was scope for many limitations, as pregnancy is unpredictable. I decided to take each day as it comes and listen to my body. Of course, work is very important, but at that point, my baby and my health were my priority. From the very beginning, I told myself that only if I was comfortable, will I push myself. Touchwood, my pregnancy didn’t hold me back physically. Yes, the first few weeks were slightly difficult, but at that time, I didn’t talk about it because you are not supposed to say anything for the first 12 weeks, right? That’s what everybody says, so I had to keep that information to myself, but I was listening to my body. I would try to get as much rest as possible, but you also have to meet your work commitments. Heart Of Stone is my first Hollywood movie, which I signed in January 2022. I tried hard to work out that schedule, so I didn’t want to back off. The team assured me that they will take good care of me. I managed to shoot my first action film while I was pregnant! That is a story I will tell for years because it also makes you realize how much your body is capable of if you just put your mind to it. I have immense respect and admiration for my body.

Alia Bhatt with mid-day’s entertainment editor Mayank Shekhar at the latest edition of Sit with Hitlist. Pics/Ashish Rane, Satej Shinde

Shortly before he became the OTT sensation/star of sorts, actor Pankaj Tripathi used to be Alia Bhatt’s tutor — for a month. This is when Bhatt was preparing to play Kumari Pinky, a brutally abused, drugged-out migrant girl from the under-classes in Udta Punjab (2016).

“There is a ‘Pankaj Tripathi wave’ that came, na, but it came after that,” Bhatt recalls her trainer, whom she’d meet every day, mastering body language, Jharkhandi dialect, down to how her character sits on haunches for hours.

It’s the only time in her career that Bhatt confesses she went “method” on herself. Meaning, abandoned cell-phone, never stepped out of hotel room, consumed no entertainment, spent time interacting/empathising with local youth, never switched on the TV, and simply marinated in the character, until the shoot ended. Why? Because she wanted to prove she was “a chameleon as an actor.” To whom? To herself, she says.

But looks like even before the audience, first to her director, Abhishek Chaubey — who hadn’t imagined Bhatt at all in the role while scripting it. She had in fact read the said script, through Shahid Kapoor, her co-actor in the romantic fantasy, 'Shaandaar' (2015), that they were shooting at the time. She actively went up to Chaubey, asking him to consider her for the battered female lead. The initial look-test didn’t wholly convince him either.

She even learnt to play hockey for a month, which is only part of the character’s back-story, not even in the film. The effort totally matches the outcome. Although she says, “There is a part [of me] that says I won’t do it again; of course, never say never. I only played that part for 20 days, which was great. I don’t know how I would have survived it for, say, 60 days.”

And it’s not that she hasn’t attempted sufficient variety since her debut in Karan Johar’s 'Student Of The Year' (SOTY, 2012), a high-school musical, playing the high-heeled, dolled-up Shanaya Singhania, who’s also admittedly nothing like Bhatt, contrary to popular belief: “If you saw me in the clothes that I wore for my first audition, you would know how I was really not that character.”

Apparently around 400 young girls tested for that debuting role. Bhatt was in 11th standard then.

Set for a starry career, she followed up SOTY with occupying a polar-opposite space as Veera Tripathi, with a traumatic past, in 'Highway' (2014). How did she land up there? In the same way that she grabbed 'Udta Punjab' for herself — through persuasive skills.

She recalls, “Imtiaz was thinking of going with an older woman. He bumped into me at a screening, and I was very actively pursuing him. I gave him a vibe that was genuine and heartfelt. And Imtiaz Ali offering me a film, after 'Rockstar' and 'Jab We Met', of course, was a big moment for me. I read the script, and was like, okay, tough, tough, tough… I don’t pay anyone to take me in their movies, in case anybody was trying to sell that narrative. I think dedication sells on the top of the pyramid, and then come the rest. Talent is secondary, hard work is number one.”

More importantly, in showbiz, nothing sells like commercial success. And Bhatt has to her credit quite possibly the best box-office report card in Bombay. Over the past decade, all films starring her, have performed at the cinemas, barring merely two. She’s quick to point them out — Shaandaar (2015) and Kalank (2019).

As I write this, 'Darlings' (2022), Bhatt’s latest release, is trending at number two, across the world, on Netflix. She made a longish appearance in one of India’s greatest hits ever, S S Rajamouli’s 'RRR' (2022). Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' (2022), with Bhatt in the title role, in fact, turned out to be a face-saviour of sorts for Bollywood in the theatres, post the pandemic, while pretty much all the top-starrers have bombed since.

Ever since she can remember, Bhatt had always wanted to be an actor. As an audience, as she described it, she was a “runty thing”, watching all of Govinda’s No 1 films in the front row of Juhu’s Chandan cinema: “I was like, mujhe Govinda banna hai!”

She entered the big screen as Preity Zinta’s child version in her father Mahesh Bhatt’s production, 'Sangharsh' (1999), when she was six. Enough offers came her way thereafter for similar parts, but her mother Soni Razdan (also an actor) was clear she didn’t want Bhatt to become a “child actor”; instead she should “study, lead a normal life; acting can happen later.”

The mother made an exception once, though. This is when she took little Bhatt out for an audition, suggesting it’d be a good experience. It’s only when she reached the building, and her mom asked the watchman about Bhansali’s floor, that she figured she was going to audition before a director she had been fan-girling over, forever: “How ironic, na, that even the building he stays in is called Magnum Opus!”

The role was for Bhansali’s 'Black'. Taking an instant shine to the kid, Bhansali told the mother right then that while he wasn’t considering her for Black, he did have a film in mind, wholly centred on her. This was going to be Balika Vadhu, that Bhatt would’ve debuted as a heroine with, when she was nine!

“We did costume rehearsals, look-tests. I went ahead and danced on Dola re dola and all of that. Ghoom phirke, I don’t know what happened. I went back to school. Sir decided not to make the film. But the keeda of working with him remained stuck in my head. When I joined the movies, I was told Sir only works with actors at their prime. I knew once that happens, I’ll get the chance.”

She still feels he should’ve gone ahead with Balika Vadhu, which became a hugely popular network TV show few years later. At the press conference before Gangubai’s premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival, Bhansali described how Bhatt had stormed out of the director’s office, having first heard the film’s concept/script. She laughs, “Sir exaggerates a little bit. He said she ran out of the office. He was not wrong. I did get a little thrown off with the subject, because we were supposed to do another film [Inshallah, a romance, with Salman Khan, that got shelved]. So I was like, you know Sir, it is a very different subject. Totally different from what I had imagined. I need to digest it for a second, but it was a no-brainer [to accept the offer].”

Box-office successes apart, what has struck audiences is Bhatt’s capacity to convincingly inhabit worlds so separate from hers — whether as a mature, Kashmiri spy, undercover in Pakistan in 'Raazi' (2018), or for that matter, the cutesy girl from Ambala in 'Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania' (2014) — given a protected upbringing, with life experiences that barely stretch beyond Juhu, the tony, filmy neighbourhood where she’s lived all through. In terms of the world/setting, the only film, she says, that comes close to her own, is 'Dear Zindagi' (2016).

The 'Udta Punjab' acting process was of course an anomaly. Otherwise, she says, besides unconditionally submitting to her directors, and approaching the part/script “from an academic sense” beforehand — on the set, she likes to be in the moment, trusting her instinct and spontaneity.

“For instance, in Darlings, I depended a lot [on the debutant director] Jasmeet [K Reen]. It helps to work with a writer-director. You know that they’ve lived with the script for that long. Jasmeet spent three months in Byculla [where Darlings is set]. She would come and tell me things. You are then really responding, living, breathing that moment [on set]. That is why I had so much fun working with Shefali [Shah], because she is exactly like that. You don’t know what she is going to do. Also, I am a bit of a sponge. You can tell who I’ve hung out with on a given day — because I start speaking like that person!”

Which was the case with Gangubai, Bhatt reveals about Bhansali being the performative inspiration: “I took so much of Sir’s personality and put that into Gangubai’s character — the way he speaks, thinks, has a certain attitude, tashan… Because it is in his head. Film is the director’s medium. And then it’s the written word. The actor has to collect all those things and place it in front of the camera.”

Which kind of explains the unique range Bhatt manages, with three disparate directors — channelling lower-deck Bombay, in what can be seen as a trilogy in her career — playing Safeena from Kurla in Zoya Akhtar’s 'Gully Boy' (2019), down to 'Gangubai' (from Kamathipura), 'Darlings' (in Byculla).

Within Mumbai itself, it’s not that there’s been anything regular about Bhatt’s own life, or so one guesses. The first time I saw her, from a distance, was at the premiere of SOTY — she would’ve been 19, decidedly seeming a brat. Everyone is allowed their 20s, and all the senseless swag that comes with it. Only that a life entirely spent under a spotlight doesn’t allow for such leeway. That’s been the 20s for her. She’s 29. Did it require a certain mental adjustment?

She admits, “Well, you got to keep it together at most times, yes. I am very open to people’s opinions. That is the only way a person learns. But there is [this] humbling part [in my personality] that also comes with my upbringing, and the people around me. I am not the first member of my own fan club. I do not believe the sun shines out of my backside. I genuinely believe I am here to do a job, and must continue to do it well, which is a by-product of a lot of people doing their job well. It is not just me. I value that.”

The question was actually meant more in terms of whether she has led the normal 20s, pulling all-nighters at nightclubs, playing the fool, with friends, etc? “Actually, I recently realised that I have literally not been a ‘present’ friend for 10 years. And they let me be ‘unpresent’, because they knew I was chasing something. And you have to make sacrifices to try and get what you want. I have the same [set of] nine friends I went to [Jamnabai] school with. At the end of the day, I feel most comfortable with them. There is a certain version of myself that I have to be in a public space, which I don’t, in their company. What matters to them is me, being me. That’s very grounding. The reason I have not lost them, is because of them. Because they have been so understanding, supportive.”

The other aspect that separates a regular person in their 20s from those killing it in showbiz, or sports as well, is your income levels — which go in the opposite direction of almost all other jobs, where you make so much less at an early age, and financially peak only nearing retirement, when there is hardly the same energy/inclination left to splurge!

At what age did Bhatt buy her first car? “At 19-20; Audi Q5.” First home? “At 21. But listen, I feel very touched and grateful for the privileges. That’s why I believe in giving back, I have set aside a certain amount of money that goes into CSR on a yearly basis, for animals [rights, protection], that I feel very passionately about.”

What did she get paid for her big Bollywood debut, SOTY? “Rs. 15 lakh. I deposited the cheque straight to my mother and very nicely said, ‘Mamma, you handle the money. Till date, my mother handles my money.” 

Where does she invest her money — I’m just curious, having never met someone as rich through their 20s, with an income/earning that is totally theirs? “In fact my CA, who’s also a family friend gets stressed out — that I don’t spend any money, don’t invest, that I need to enjoy a little bit. But I am not much of a spender.”

That said, Bhatt concedes she does have some sort of “business brain”: “Itna toh mujhe pata hai. I created my own children’s [clothing] brand, and I put my own money into it. I didn’t go to an investor. And the brand has grown a lot.” It’s called Edamamma; meaning?

“My [five-year-old] cat’s name is Edward, who is my inspiration for everything. So Ed-A-Mamma, like Ed’s mama. He is there in my production house logo as well [there is a cat’s whiskers], and in the beginning of my film.”

Bhatt launched her movie company with Darlings, and named it Eternal Sunshine, which is an obvious reference to Michael Gondry’s 2004 romantic sci-fi, surely? “It is one of my favourite films. But it’s also the feeling [that] movies [evoke]. I believe movies are [an] eternal [sunshine].”

Her character Badru in 'Darlings', presumably the same age as her, actually has a checklist hanging in her wall at home, with life-goals for boxes that she must tick, before she attains a certain age. Why does that sound familiar?

Here’s Bhatt, the actor, with a house, car, checked, before 21; Bollywood debut before 20; started a film company, and then married, and is even expecting a child, before she turns 30! Is she following some timeline — yes/no/maybe?

Bhatt says, “Contrary to the character in Darlings, I don’t have a list. I have never had a plan. In fact, I used to think I will get married very late. I was one of those girls, who didn’t really talk about marriage much. But it is totally different, when you fall deeply in love, and you also feel like, okay, no, you want to get into that next point of your life.”

“That happened very naturally with Ranbir [Kapoor]. I don’t know why. It just happened. And I am not feeling like my work will stop, pause, or change. I will continue to work till the very end. But that [raising a family] section of your life is something that you have to give your time and energy to. It is not going to happen by itself.”

As for manifesting life events, here’s something that can’t be denied about her relationship with her now-husband, Ranbir Kapoor. Over the past decade, pick up any interview, especially the rapid-fire round type stuff that’s common on YouTube chats.

Every time she’s been asked about a crush, someone she’d like to date on-screen, etc — inevitably, her answer has been Ranbir Kapoor. Which is mildly strange, since both of them had been dating other people, all through. It’s almost like she set her eyes on this guy, and simply announced to the world that that’s the one she’s gonna end up with.

Bhatt laughs, “You know, it is really weird. I was saying it as a regular ‘cute girl’. I was not actually chasing Ranbir on the side, or plotting to get Ranbir; none of that was happening. The fact that I was saying it obviously means I was not thinking about it. Sometimes when you think about it, you never say it.”

 

“It is beautiful how it naturally worked out, when we started working together on Brahmastra. For the longest time, we were socially meeting each other. But we had our own lives. There was no interaction, nothing. There was not even a friendship. I could not even call Ranbir a friend. But it naturally happened on that one flight to Tel Aviv, when we both were not seeing anybody. Both of us were single. Both of us were like, ‘Oh my God, what were we doing all these years?’ ‘Why aren’t we together?’ It was a question he kinda asked me. I was like, ‘I don’t know!’ So that’s what I was talking about. You cannot plan something like this.”

By the way, Bhatt will soon get christened Bhatt-Kapoor, or Kapoor-Bhatt, however she plans to put it, for her last name. While Ranbir has “fondly” changed the marital status on his passport, she hasn’t had the time to make the submissions since her wedding.

But she intends to go in for an official name-change in her travel documents: “We are going to have a child now. I don’t want to be the Bhatt, whilst the Kapoors are traveling together; you know what I mean? I don’t want to feel left out.” Her screen name, she says, will remain the same.

That’s a lotta information to share, given her marriage ceremony itself in Mumbai on April 14, 2022, seemed no less than a state secret, with her fans, and therefore the national press, going on all fours to scoop out any details they could, while none were forthcoming.

Even the wedding date was open to speculation — what with one uncle in the family declaring a date, and another cousin contradicting it. It’s unclear if either was invited! Why not just reveal the date, and end the unnecessary attention.

Bhatt says, “Par mere ko announce nahin karna hai. Kyunki yeh public event nahin hai [Why? It’s not a public event!]. Speculation was also that there are 25 vegan counters [at the wedding]. I said I didn’t even have 25 guests. What am I going to get 25 vegan counters for? And I have got a lovely but a basic house. You speculate what the hell you want, it is fine, entertaining. I don’t care. I didn’t want to confirm it. Because you have to understand, I live in a residential building. It was anyway a nightmare [for the neighbours] — poor things, we sent them all hampers…”

A celebrity destination-wedding, away from prying paps, could have also saved everyone from the traffic snarl on Pali Hill, with TV crews clogging the two-lane road for days, assuming she could tie the proverbial knot, any afternoon/evening/night!

“Yes, haath jodke unse maafi maangti hoon [I apologize with folded hands], but we made enough preparation. I wanted to get married at my house, where Ranbir and I have lived together for the past many years since our relationship began. It was perfect, comfortable — I got to interact with everybody, because there were only 40 people. We aren’t the big, celebratory kinda people.”

Speaking of unnecessary media attention, while India, like the world, was reeling under COVID-19 in 2020, the national TV news media, particularly certain aggro anchors, known for manufacturing enemies within, chose Bollywood as a fresh egg in their basket. Accusing it of being the hotbed of a nepotistic culture — the insider-outsider, elite-subaltern as binaries, being part of a wider politics.

The city’s film industry was under siege in nightly debates, that instantly expand to trolling online; both feeding off each other. Bhatt belongs to the third generation in the film industry. Her grandfather Nanabhai Bhatt used to make swashbuckling stunt flicks in the black-&-white era. And she was introduced to Bollywood (along with Sidharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan) by Karan Johar, who was himself under attack for heading a “gang”/”mafia” of sorts. She, in turn, uniquely became the face of Bollywood’s nepotism. Surely the insane vitriol can take a toll — what did she make of it?

“I believed the only way I could shut the conversation down is through my movies. So, don’t respond, don’t feel bad. Of course, I felt bad. But feeling bad is a small price to pay for the work that you are respected and loved for. I delivered a film like Gangubai. So, who’s having the last laugh? At least until I deliver my next flop? For now, I am laughing!”

Bhatt is combative enough as she makes her case further: “I can’t keep defending myself verbally. And if you don’t like me, don’t watch me. I can’t help it. That’s something I can’t do [anything about]. People have something to say. Hopefully, I will prove to them with my movies that I am actually worth the space I occupy. That’s the controlled person in me. The other person in me is like, ‘What the hell is this nonsense? Why is this happening for no reason?’”

“Nepotism, in my opinion, exists in every industry. It’s leveraging your connections to help somebody get a position. You can similarly put somebody forward for a job in tech, marketing, or finance. But if he messes up that job, the company goes into a loss. [Likewise in films] the audience is the biggest barometer for success. If they believe you’re worth that success, they will give it to you. Another thing — how can I control where I am born, bhai? Tomorrow, if my child wants to get into acting or movies, they will have to work hard to prove. So you have to have a super thick skin [about it].”

Which she does, evidently, over a deceptively petite frame — even a sense of humour, actually. Recall the video she once made with AIB, lampooning herself, responding to memes in 2014, because she couldn’t answer who the President of India was, on the chat show Koffee With Karan.

Oh wait, that reminds me, does she know who the President is now? To be fair, it’s a trick question. At the point we were recording this episode of Sit with Hitlist, Droupadi Murmu was the President-elect. She remembers [Ram Nath] Kovind. “Madam President,” she says. Asking me in return if I know who the production designer of Darlings is. Fair point, I should know, but I don’t [it’s Garima Mathur]. My bad. But it’s not the same thing!

While Bhatt sweetly retaliates, “I don’t want to give the wrong answer. And tum mujhe dumb samjho, mujhe koi interest nahin hai, jaake meri film dekho, bas [Think of me as dumb if you like, never mind, just go watch my movies].” Oh not dumb at all — someone with an uncannily high emotional intelligence, for sure.

On April 2, Malaika Arora was injured in a road accident when her car was caught in a three-vehicle pile-up as she was returning to Mumbai from Pune. While the accident completely shook her up, in a fortnight, she gathered herself and returned to shoot. In a chat with BT, Malaika talks about the day of the accident, life after it and also about what helped her get back on her feet. Excerpts:

That fateful night — I remember there was a lot of blood around me. My family, Arjun (Kapoor), and everyone had rushed in. It was after about a week that I saw myself in the mirror, finally. The scar was right there on my forehead — a stark reminder of what had happened, of the fragility of life. It wasn’t vanity that came over me at that time. Yes, vanity is crucial in this business, but it was the fact that this scar is a reminder which will stay where I will see it every day. Even though this scar will remind me of what happened, it won’t stop me from getting back to life. Sometimes, I still recall that night; I was praying for two things. I didn’t want to die that night, and I didn’t want to lose my eyesight. When the accident happened, I’m told I was constantly asking for my mother and my son Arhaan. I was mumbling about going back on set on Monday. The accident happened on a Saturday night. I didn’t go back on the Monday after the accident. But in 15 days, I did.

Initially, I was in a daze. I’d be smiling and talking, and I would repeat everything that had happened to people visiting me. I was on autopilot mode. But it wasn’t sinking in. The only time I would shudder was when I’d be alone, reliving those moments. It was beyond scary. In those 15 days after the trauma, I didn’t feel safe sitting in a car. I know this is temporary. Also, I didn’t want constant reminders. I just wanted to be left alone after a point. Initially, I didn’t know the extent of the injury, and I was in shock and couldn’t see clearly. There were shards of glass all over and tiny pieces had gone into my eyes.

The first day was scary. After two weeks of being in bed, I was on a busy set. I had to be careful not to hurt myself. But it was wonderful to see everyone being so loving and caring. I was nervous about getting back, but the moment the director said, ‘lights, camera, and action’, the adrenalin took over, and my body went into a different space. Of course, I had to remind myself not to overexert or jeopardise my health, but I was happy.

In times like this, there’s mental and physical recovery involved. I would say I am a strong person, and that is how I have always been. I feel perfectly fit physically, but my state of mind is still fragile. There is fear, worry and anxiety. It takes cajoling to get me out, anywhere. In fact, it took some cajoling to attend Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt’s wedding bash. More than being in the car, seeing so many people around the car threw me off my game. Now, the minute I sit in a car, I put on the seatbelt, even if I am sitting in the back seat. Until the accident, it hadn’t even crossed my mind that there was a seatbelt behind.

I don’t wear my emotions on my sleeves. Rarely, and only my near and dear ones, see the vulnerable side of me. I have my bouts of feeling low, but I have an inbuilt mechanism for lifting myself from that. I process everything, understand it and go through it completely to come out on the other side. I don’t use my work as my shield against my problems or push them under the carpet. But yes, work keeps me strong and focussed.

Every relationship has its process, its plans and what next and where next. The most essential part is if we know we want a future together. If you are in a relationship where you are still figuring things out and saying, ‘Oh, I don’t know’... that’s not where I stand in my relationship. It’s sacred and important to me. I feel we are at a place where we’re thinking of the where-next and what-next parts. We discuss things a lot. We’re on the same plane, with similar thoughts and ideas. We really get each other. We’re at a mature stage where there’s still room for more discoveries, but we’d love to see a future together and see where we can take it from here. We laugh and joke about it, but we’re damn serious, too. You have to feel positive and secure in your relationship. I am very happy and positive. Arjun gives me that confidence and surety, and it’s both ways. Yes, I don’t think we should be opening all the cards at once. We still love our life and romance together every single day. I always tell him that I want to grow old with you. We will figure out the rest, but I know he’s my man.

On Thursday evening, actor couple Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt were announced Mr and Miss. The two had an intimate wedding with almost 50 guests. The couple ensured the RK legacy was maintained through the rituals. The nuptials were performed by Pandit Rajesh Sharma, who was a regular at Krishna Raj house. Kapoor and Bhatt took four pheras and had a saptapadi.

Talking to us about the wedding, Sharma shares, “Rishi (Kapoor) ji ka aashirwad lete huye, saare functions kiya hai unhone. It was a traditional Punjabi wedding, with all the rituals that the Kapoor family has been following. They made sure everything happens just like it has always.”

Sharma reveals Kapoor and Bhatt took seven vows right from being each other’s closest friends to having a healthy child. “Ranbir ki iccha thi ki, Panditji puri vidhi samjha ke (shaadi) karana,” he adds. While Sharma says he has been a regular at the Bhatt’s, he lost touch with the Kapoor family in the recent times. “Ranbir and I recently met at Shamshera’s muhurat. That is when he said meri shaadi aap hi karwaoge,” he recalls.

Sharma discloses that the Sehra Bandi (a ritual where the groom’s head is tied with the garlands and pagdi) was done at 3pm. “Four sisters (Natasha Nanda, Riddhima Kapoor Sahani, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Karisma Kapoor) applied teeka to Ranbir. Shweta Bachchan Nanda played the role of Bhabhi and applied the kaala teeka,” Sharma says.

Post the ritual, the ladke waale including the Kapoor family, Akash Ambani and film-maker Karan Johar broke into “baraat-like bhangra”. It was followed by the Milni ceremony, varmala and the wedding ceremony ended by 5.20 pm. Bhatt’s parents Mahesh Bhatt and Soni Razdan did the kanyadaan.

Sharma adds how he took a dig at Kapoor’s infamous temper during a ritual where Bhatt’s brothers hold her toes on a stone. “They gave advice that there could be instances jaha kisi ki khopdi garam ho, but you need to remain rock steady like this rock. Everyone started laughing at this,” he shares.

As actors Ranbir Kapoor-Alia Bhatt’s wedding festivities continue to create buzz, we bring you the inside scoop on all that went on the D-Day. Apart from the pheras, the pair also exchanged rings on the same day. In addition, Bhatt’s mother, actor Soni Razdan, gifted her son-in-law Kapoor with a high-end expensive watch. “It costs almost Rs. 2.50 crore,” a source tells us exclusively.

As per customs and traditions, the guests present at the wedding received Kashmiri shawls, specially picked by the bride. The source adds, “The material of these shawls was incredibly fine and everyone was in awe of it.” Another insider shares that the joota chupai ritual turned out to be quite a fun affair with Bhatt’s girl gang demanding Rs. 11.5 crores from Kapoor. “After much banter, an envelope containing Rs. 1 lakh was given to them,” the source informs.

Bhatt’s haldi ceremony took place earlier on Thursday morning, but the actor skipped the traditional chooda ritual, which requires the bride to wear the chooda for at least 40 days to a year.

“Bhatt will shortly begin filming for her next, which will most likely be her Hollywood debut alongside Wonder Woman actor Gal Gadot,” the insider shared and added, “Therefore she won’t be able to wear the chooda for the time being.”

Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor tied the knot on Thursday in a private ceremony at their home in Bandra, which was attended by close friends and family members.

After the wedding, Alia shared a few pictures from the ceremony and wrote, “Today, surrounded by our family and friends, at home… in our favourite spot — the balcony we’ve spent the last 5 years of our relationship — we got married. With so much already behind us, we can’t wait to build more memories together… memories that are full of love, laughter, comfortable silences, movie nights, silly fights, wine delights and Chinese bites. Thank you for all the love and light during this very momentous time in our lives. It has made this moment all the more special. Love, Ranbir and Alia (sic). ”

Alia’s half-brother Rahul Bhatt says, “It all went well. The functions were exquisite and well-managed. Both the groom and the bride looked like a prince and princess. It feels great to be a part of the Kapoor family, and I must say they are such wonderful people.”

The couple took four pheras instead of seven pheras, he says. Talking about his now brother-in-law Ranbir, Rahul says, “Ranbir is the right choice for Alia. Just like Alia knows to pick her films, she made a good choice in finding herself the right life partner. I always believe that destiny is a matter of choice, not chance.”

Rahul says he saw his father, Mahesh Bhatt, in a never-seen-before avatar. “I saw my dad in his element at the wedding (laughs!). I had never seen him in his traditional wear, going all out sporting a turban. He was very happy and having a gala time mixing and mingling with the Kapoors. Soni (Razdan) was very emotional.”

The Ranbir Kapoor-Alia Bhatt wedding yesterday was a close-knit affair. Rakesh Roshan and Jeetendra — longtime friends of Ranbir’s late father Rishi Kapoor — were not present at the ceremony, but sent their love to the newlyweds.

Talking to mid-day, Roshan said, “Ranbir is my best friend’s son, so he is like my son. He was brought up in front of my eyes. I miss Chintu so much. It was his wish to see Ranbir married. Nobody should feel bad about not being invited to an intimate wedding. When Hrithik [Roshan’s son] got married [to Sussanne Khan], only family and a few close friends from Mumbai were invited to the Bangalore wedding. The problem is that if you invite one, you have to invite all of them, and in COVID times, you cannot do that. We’re happy that Ranbir is getting married. I send all my love and blessings to Ranbir and Alia.”

Echoing his friend’s sentiments, Jeetendra added, “My heartfelt blessings and good wishes for Ranbir and Alia as they embark on this sacred journey. I miss Chintu with all my heart.”

One of Bollywood’s favourite love stories, which started on the sets of Brahmastra, reached its happily-ever-after yesterday. Tinsel town’s power couple Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt tied the knot in an intimate ceremony at the groom’s Bandra home, Vastu. Following the pheras, the newlyweds posed for the photographers. The groom may be intensely private, but his joy was evident as he went the filmy route and picked up his dulhania in his arms, giving their legion of fans and the waiting lensmen an ‘aww’ moment.

The big day started with a haldi ceremony at Vastu, which was attended by Neetu Kapoor and Riddhima Sahni, as well as Alia’s mother Soni Razdan and sister Shaheen Bhatt. A source says, “The festivity started around 9 am. After a quick round of haldi, Alia started getting ready for the wedding at 11 am.”

Soon, there was a steady stream of baraatis. From Randhir and Kunal Kapoor to Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan with their sons, from Mahesh and Pooja Bhatt to Akash and Shloka Ambani, families and close friends arrived to celebrate D-day. Sources say Karan Johar, who launched Alia in the movies with Student Of The Year (2012), turned emotional on seeing her as a bride. “The pheras took place around 3:30 pm. The wedding was in keeping with traditional Punjabi rituals,” adds the source.

Talking to mid-day, Randhir remembered his late brother and Ranbir’s father Rishi Kapoor. “I wish Chintu were here. We all miss him every day, but more so today. It is wonderful to see Ranbir and Alia starting this new chapter.”

Neela Devi Kapoor, Shammi Kapoor’s wife and the oldest member of the family, welcomed Alia into the fold. “She gave Alia her first shagun. It signified that she is now a part of the family,” says the source.

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Actor Alia Bhatt finally got married to her childhood crush, actor Ranbir Kapoor, on Thursday in Mumbai at Ranbir’s residence, Vastu. The afternoon wedding was an intimate affair with only their closest friends and family members in attendance.

Ranbir’s family — mum Neetu Kapoor and sister Riddhima Kapoor Sahni — arrived in style, wearing designer Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla outfits.

Team bride comprised family members — parents Mahesh Bhatt and Soni Razdan, sisters Shaheen Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt, as well as Alia’s BFF Akansha Ranjan Kapoor.

Ranbir’s uncle, Randhir Kapoor, told us that the family was “happy that Alia-Ranbir got married” but added that everyone was missing his late brother and Ranbir’s dad, Rishi Kapoor, on the occasion. “We missed Chintu (Rishi Kapoor); he should have been here. But life must go on.”

Alia’s team distributed sweets to the media present at the venue, but the security in-charge, Yusuf, admitted that their work was made quite difficult by the paps around. Security forces even made a human chain and used the help of local police officers to escort celebs flocking to the venue.

The couple’s pre-wedding festivities took place at Vastu on Wednesday, and we exclusively learnt from choreographer Rajendra Singh aka Masterji that the Kapoor khandaan surprised the couple with a dance performance on songs such as Mehendi Hai Rachne Waali, Dholida, Tenu Leke Main Jawaanga, etc. He said the wedding was a “very private affair, and no more than 30 to 35 people were present”.

Furthermore, our sources revealed that Alia didn’t opt for an elaborate bridal mehendi, but instead got a minimal and simple design. “She also got an R (Ranbir’s initial) and an 8 (his football jersey number) included in her mehendi design,” informed the source. Her mehendi was done by Chembur-based artist Jyoti Chheda.

And it has begun! After weeks of speculation, the Ranbir Kapoor-Alia Bhatt wedding got off to a dazzling start in Bandra yesterday. As per the couple’s wishes, the pre-wedding festivity, like the nuptials that are slated for today, was an intimate affair. But the low-key ceremony was enough to bring Pali Hill to a standstill.

Paparazzi swarmed around the lane leading to Ranbir’s residence Vastu, with four of them trying to sneak in, in vain. An additional set of bouncers and a media management team were promptly deployed to man the premises along with the assigned cops.

The day began with a mehndi ceremony at Vastu. A beaming Neetu Kapoor was the first to arrive at the venue with daughter Riddhima Sahni and family, followed by the bride’s father Mahesh Bhatt and half-sister Pooja Bhatt. Soon, guests — including Karisma and Kareena Kapoor Khan, Karan Johar, Ayan Mukerji — started pouring in.

We hear the function was followed by pitr pooja, which is conducted to honour the family’s ancestors and elders who have passed away. A source reveals, “The couple had a ring exchange ceremony. Forty-two years ago, Neetu ji and Rishi ji were engaged on this day. The kids wanted to start their marriage on the special note.”

After a chooda and pagdi ceremony, the evening was reserved for the sangeet. The source adds, “The couple had little time to prepare and apparently danced to some old Rishi-Neetu hits.” Later in the evening, Neetu confirmed to the waiting lensmen that the wedding is scheduled today.

An exotic honeymoon will have to wait as Ranbir, soon after the wedding functions, will head to Himachal Pradesh to kick off Animal. The bride will resume work on Karan Johar’s Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani. But, it turns out that the couple might enjoy a quick getaway to Dubai next month. Ranbir is committed to play a celebrity football match in the desert emirate on May 7. His team All Stars Football Club will play against the Emirates United at the Shabab Al-Ahli stadium.

A source reveals, “Ranbir will reach Dubai on May 6. The couple has decided to turn it into a mini-holiday. Alia will join him on May 8. The two will extend their stay, returning to the bay after May 15.”

The countdown to the most awaited big Bollywood wedding has begun. Ranbir Kapoor will soon tie the knot with Alia Bhatt, and the fan frenzy is shooting through the roof. Ranbir and Alia are looked upon as two of the finest actors of this generation, making this union all the more special. Who better than Imtiaz Ali to talk about this merger of two powerhouse talents. The director, after all, has given the actors their career-defining films — Highway with Alia and Rockstar and Tamasha with Ranbir.

When asked about the couple and their upcoming marriage, the director said, “Amongst the actors that I have worked with, there is no one more similar than Ranbir and Alia. To be alike as actors, you have to be alike as people as well. You need to be aligned in thought, and that’s the case with these two.”

He recalled, “Even before Ranbir and Alia got friendly with each other, there was a kind of affinity I saw in both of them because they were so alike. I have had the privilege of working with Alia in Highway and Ranbir in Rockstar and Tamasha, and I can say that there are no actors like these two. The fact that Ranbir and Alia are together, gives me immense happiness and pleasure. I am not going to say more (smiles), but I am extremely happy that people like that are grouping together. They are the purest form of actors that I have seen in my life.”

Contrary to reports that actors Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor’s wedding has been postponed, her half-brother Rahul Bhatt, who’s been quoted in the reports, confirms to us that the wedding is happening on the pre-decided date.

“The wedding is happening this week. I haven’t mentioned the date to anyone. All I can say is that it is a matter of time till you see an official release from their side. I can assure you it will happen before April 20,” Rahul says.

Reluctant to give out any more information about the wedding, he hints that the venue might change due to the increased media presence outside Kapoor’s home. “The venue might shift to Taj Hotel, Colaba to avoid paparazzi. The arrangements are being done as we talk,” says Bhatt, adding, “I have been told to switch off my phone, but I can’t do that because I have to be accessible to my clients.”

As for the other wedding preparations, we have learnt that it is kept on a strict budget. Also, there won’t be a grand sangeet ceremony or bachelor party. “There is no elaborate sangeet planned, they may dance at the mehendi function,” a source says, adding that there will be a joota chupai rasam, too. “Ranbir is likely to give Rs. 1 lakh to Alia’s girl gang,” shares the source.

“Even the photographers have been chosen by Alia and Grishma (Shah, Bhatt’s manager) and they haven’t shot any celebrity wedding before. As for the mandap, a female set designer has been brought on board,” says the source.

Actors Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan, and filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali have been reportedly invited for the varmala ceremony.

Content creator Nikunj Lotia aka Nick’s (BeYouNick) latest video, which met with a “Ded” comment from actor Alia Bhatt, has gone viral. In the video, he’s seen running after a car that reads ‘Alia Weds Ranbir’ while wiping his tears, with the song Tu Meri Hai Meri Hi Rahegi (Kabir Singh; 2019) playing in the background. This is the first time that Bhatt has reacted to news about her wedding with actor Ranbir Kapoor.

Talking about how the hilarious video has caught the attention of celebrities and social media users, Nick tells us, “I feel the same excitement that I felt when I made my first video. It’s not every morning that you wake up and see your video getting picked up by so many portals.”

But it was much later that he realised why it grabbed so many eyeballs. “Alia has commented on my videos earlier, too, but once I read the articles, I realised that this is the first time that she reacted to something related to her wedding. That’s when I understood the gravity of the situation,” he shares.

The YouTuber has collaborated with Bhatt several times in the past. Recalling an awkward incident, he says, “We were shooting for a video together and she told me that if her film does well, she would give me her number. Unfortunately, that movie was Kalank (2019).”

With Ranbir Kapoor-Alia Bhatt’s wedding only a day away, preparation is on in full swing at the RK bungalow in Chembur as well as at the Kapoor and Bhatt residences. Amid all this, on Tuesday, the to-be-bride’s half-brother Rahul Bhatt threw a curveball when he claimed that the shaadi of the year had been postponed to April 20, owing to security concerns. Alia’s paternal uncle Robin Bhatt, however, confirmed to mid-day that the nuptials are lined up on April 14, as per the original plan. 

“I don’t know of any change in the wedding date or of any security issue. I have not been informed about the postponement. As far as I know, their wedding is happening on April 14 as scheduled. It’s definitely not on April 20,” says the writer. 

Over the past few weeks, the wedding has taken centre-stage in tinsel town. The couple’s families have been tight-lipped about it, with even Mahesh Bhatt maintaining an uncharacteristic silence. Happy as he is for the lovebirds, Robin says, “I don’t know why it’s being done quietly. It was Ranbir and Alia’s call. It’s an unusual marriage because the children are taking all the decisions. It is their life, their marriage, and they know their minds. The elders are to [respect] their wishes and give their blessings.”  

The pre-wedding festivities will begin today. While the haldi, mehndi, sangeet and wedding ceremonies will take place at the RK bungalow, a glitzy reception for their industry friends will be held at a suburban five-star hotel later in the week. Kapoor has also booked the banquet hall in Vastu, his Pali Hill residence, for the entire week.

A source close to the family says, “Conflicting dates are being thrown around to avoid media frenzy. The security has been beefed up at Vastu and RK bungalow, and colour-coded wristbands have been given to the staff to ensure no one enters the venues without the necessary permission. Ranbir is an intensely private person, and did not want a destination wedding. Instead, he wanted an intimate affair where his near and dear ones can witness his union with Alia. To avoid the paparazzi, ahead of the wedding, Alia will head to the Bhatts’ farmhouse in Kalote, which is only an hour away from the RK bungalow.”

The wedding guest list is restricted to just over 100, and includes Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Karan Johar and Ayan Mukerji.

Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt are getting hitched on April 14 in Mumbai. With one of the most anticipated celebrity weddings set to take place this week, speculations have been rife over functions, venue, trousseau and the guest list. It has been reported that the wedding will be an intimate affair with limited people in attendance.

We asked Ssmilly Suri, who is Mahesh Bhatt’s niece and Alia’s cousin, whether she would be partaking in the functions and she replied, “I have been inundated with calls regarding Alia’s wedding as if I know everything about it (laughs!). To be honest, I have no clue. I am not a part oft he guest list... at least not yet. I wish both of them happiness. Their wedding is a private affair and it’s their prerogative to invite whoever they wish to. To each their own. I might invite just two people to my wedding.”

She shared, “I am in my own world and don’t know what’s happening in people’s lives. I am not in touch with anyone apart from my brother Mohit Suri and cousin Emraan Hashmi.”

Talking about her equation with Alia, whom she last met at Mukesh Bhatt’s daughter Sakshi’s wedding in 2019, the Kalyug actress recounted the time when she taught her dance. She said, “I taught dance to kids while I was learning it from Shiamak Davar at his academy. Alia was one of my first students. I was 13 and she must have been six back then. A couple of years ago, I received a call from her team saying that she wanted to learn pole dance. However, she told me that she got busy and couldn’t attend my class.”

Ssmilly added, “Alia is understanding and sensitive. She is an old soul. She has achieved so much at such a young age, but remains grounded. Success hasn’t gone to her head. She is a lovely girl and takes care of everyone around her. I am not surprised that she has found a family in which she is fitting in so beautifully. I am sure all of them dote on her. I wish her luck and hope she brings a lot of happiness to her new family.”

Ranbir Kapoor had won much critical acclaim when he had played Sanjay Dutt in Rajkumar Hirani’s Sanju, a biopic on the latter. Ranbir had shot the film over a period of about a year, picking on Dutt’s body language, his sense of style and swagger, and the emotions he had felt at various stages in his life. Now as Alia and Ranbir are all set to walk down the aisle, we asked Sanjay Dutt if he had anything to tell the couple.

Sanjay, who is currently promoting KGF - Chapter 2, said, “If Ranbir is getting married, I am really

happy for him. Alia was literally born and brought up in front of me. Marriage is a commitment they are making to each other. And they have to stick by that, hold each other’s hands and move ahead in happiness, peace and glory. Make kids soon Ranbir and stay happy!”

No marriage is a bed of roses — while the journey could be exciting, it also comes with its own challenges. When asked if he had to give Ranbir any piece of advice, what it would be, Sanjay said, “It’s a matter of compromise from both ends. Rocky roads will come and go, but someone will have to bend. I would only advise them to assess the situation and be on the same page as for who needs to bend in the given circumstance at that time. With every curve in the road, they have to remember that the commitment they made to each other is very important and that is the key to keep moving ahead.”

Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt will tie the knot on April 14 in Mumbai. Compliments have begun to pour in for the couple from their fans and well-wishers. Noted filmmaker Subhash Ghai is delighted by the news, too. He shared a special bond with veteran actor Rishi Kapoor. The two collaborated on various celebrated films and their friendship stood the test oftime. Ghai is happy that his late friend’s dream is finally coming true. RK senior wanted nothing more than seeing his son Ranbir happy and well settled with Alia.

In an exclusive chat with BT, Ghai said, “I am so delighted to know this news of Ranbir getting married to Alia. I share my blessings for the couple. Both are fantastic people.”

Getting emotional, he recalled, “I remember in January 2020, when I had gone to meet Rishi Kapoor at his home to invite him for an event. We had a long chat. He was so happy to tell me that they were planning Ranbir’s marriage with Alia in December 2020 in a big way. But his passing away left us in deep grief. Today, I am so happy that Ranbir and Alia are finally fulfilling his dream. I wish both a happy married life, the way I always did for Rishi and Neetu Kapoor.”

After a chat with her, you’re bound to leave the room with a wide smile on your face. That’s the Neetu Kapoor effect. At 63, her zest for life is contagious. After losing husband Rishi Kapoor to cancer in 2020, the past two years have been hard on her, but she believes in having a positive outlook towards life. The veteran actor has been roped in as a judge on Dance Deewane Juniors. Though she is aware that she may not be on par with co-judges Nora Fatehi and Marzi Pestonji when it comes to shaking a leg, she is not one to be bogged down. Her recent viral video, where she is seen matching steps with Fatehi on Naach meri rani, is a clear example. “I wanted to try it. I cannot [dance] like Nora Fatehi. I got 50 per cent of her steps; the rest, well, I am not as young as her,” smiles Kapoor.

In the past, Kapoor and husband Rishi were often invited on reality shows as guest judges. Now, she is a permanent fixture on the reality show — a role she wholeheartedly welcomed. “I told Marzi and Nora that I won’t eliminate anyone; it’s their job. I’ll leave the technical things to the experts. I am going to be all heart and just love the kids.”

The veteran actor notes that dance in Hindi cinema has evolved over time. “During my days, there was one thumka, one classical style, and the Bhagwan dada dance. Today, one witnesses so many dance styles, from locking and popping to tutting to freestyle. It’s a learning process for me. Irrespective of the dance form, the key is to put your heart in your performance so that the audience can feel your joy.”

One of the prominent leading ladies of the late ’70s, Kapoor left showbiz in 1980 to tie the knot with Rishi and subsequently concentrate on her family. Looking back, she has no regrets about losing the prime years of her career. “I began working as a child artiste. My mother would say that it has become like a job because I had no desire or want [at the time]. At the age of eight, I already had received so much fame, love, and a barrage of awards. Post that, I only wanted to get married and find some peace of mind. I had a demanding husband, and kids to take care of. There was no room for anything else. My husband was always looking for me, so I never wanted to leave him alone.”

Now, she admits things are different. While little can fill the void left by the passing of a partner, Kapoor has rediscovered her passion for movies. “My husband is gone, and my children don’t live with me anymore. There is a vacuum because there is nothing to do. I did JugJugg Jeeyo because I wanted to. The same goes for Dance Deewane Juniors. I want to keep my mind occupied. I don’t want to sit at home and think that he is gone, or think about sad things. I like being in a happy space. I can go on with my life. I am only doing [the show] out of love and desire, because I want to be happy.”

Currently, busy prepping for son Ranbir Kapoor’s wedding with Alia Bhatt. She refuses to divulge details of the upcoming nuptials, claiming that she is “not aware of the dates” as both Ranbir and Bhatt are “unpredictable”. “I feel like [screaming from the rooftops], but they are too private, and I respect that. Alia is the purest form of a human being. There is no negativity in her. She doesn’t think ill of anyone; she is talented, lovely, and beautiful.”

While there has been buzz bachelor’s party would be hosted a few days before his wedding with Alia Bhatt, that plan has apparently changed. Now, the couple will host a bash on April 16 where they will raise a toast to their marriage with their closest pals after they tie the knot late in the night on April 15. This is expected to be the first bash that they will host for around 50 of their closest friends before their wedding reception in the following week. Like the wedding, this too will be an intimate affair.

The venue for the said bash has not been revealed to the guests yet. Actors including Arjun Kapoor, Varun Dhawan and Aditya Roy Kapur and filmmaker Rohit Dhawan are expected to be among the guests at the party. In the meantime, the decoration work continues at bride Alia’s house, situated in the same building as Ranbir’s. The groom has booked the banquet hall in their residential complex for intimate, pre and post-wedding festivities, which are likely to begin early next week.

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Conjectures are rife vis-à-vis actor-couple Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt’s wedding. We have learnt that they will tie the knot on April 14. The baraat procession will start for the venue, Kapoor’s pad at Vastu, Bandra in Mumbai, around 3 pm and the nuptials will last till evening. The mehendi and haldi ceremonies will take place on April 13 and 14, respectively.

“It’s likely to be held on the seventh floor. It will be an intimate affair, with only 50 people in attendance, including their family and close friends like filmmaker Karan Johar and director Ayan Mukerji,” a source confirms. Only the guests and photographers will have access to the floor (without phones).

We have also learnt that Bhatt will wear a pink Sabyasachi lehenga for the wedding along with a dupatta made by close friend, designer Manish Malhotra. While the theme for the wedding will be pastel, the menu will have all shades — from chaat to Kashmiri varieties. The couple will throw a party for friends on April 16. “It will have almost 80 to 100 guests,” the source adds.

Contrary to reports, no wedding planner has been brought on board and Bhatt’s manager, Grishma Shah, is managing all the functions. Currently, both Kapoor and Bhatt are at Vastu, holding all the meetings. They haven’t stepped out of the house for four days, an onlooker present in the vicinity tells us.

Over the last few weeks, there has been much speculation about Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor’s wedding date, venue and other details. Bombay Times spoke exclusively to Alia’s half-brother, Rahul Bhatt, who revealed some interesting details about Bollywood’s big, fat upcoming wedding ceremony. 

Rahul said, “Yes, the wedding is happening and I have been invited. I will be there for the ceremonies. However, I am not going to sing and dance. I am a gym instructor by profession and I will be there in the capacity of a bouncer (laughs!). I will be the rakshak at the wedding.”

Rahul feels proud that at such a young age Alia is doing so well in life. He said, “I am really happy to see what she has achieved at such a young age. She has got a great body of work and she has found fame, fortune and real love, which is non-existent in today’s time. She has been blessed with everything because of her choices, the Almighty, the blessings of her parents and good karma. At the right age, she is making the right choices.”

Ask Rahul if Alia discussed her idea of love and relationships with him while she was growing up and he shared, “I am not the kind of a brother who she would discuss all this with. She was too scared that I would go and beat up the boyfriend instead (laughs!).”

Lastly, talk about welcoming Ranbir to the family and Rahul added, “We have met as kids. In recent times, I haven’t met Ranbir in the capacity of Alia’s boyfriend. He has achieved so much in life. I think Alia has made a good choice.”

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Alia Bhatt’s uncle and writer Robin Bhatt spoke to us about the excitement in the household over the shaadi . He said, “I am happy that Alia is getting married. As her uncle, I just wish that my niece and Ranbir live a happy life together.”

The duo is tying the knot at RK House, the family bungalow of the Kapoors located in Chembur. Interestingly, the venue is making the senior Bhatt nostalgic! He shares, “Alia is getting married to Ranbir at RK House where Rishi Kapoor (Ranbir’s father) too got married and I remember I was a part of that wedding as well.”

With all the buzz around Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt’s much-anticipated wedding next week, Bombay Times has it that the actor has booked the banquet hall at his residential complex for seven to eight days. Smaller get-togethers will be held there. Our sources have indicated that the venue has been booked from early next week.

Although the banquet hall can house about 40 to 50 people at a time, Ranbir has assured the building committee that he won’t have more than 15 people at a time on any given day. If hearsay at the building is anything to go by, the actor’s bachelor’s party and a few other smaller functions, pre and post the wedding, are likely to be held here.

According to a source, “Ranbir has been asked to ensure that the noise levels are kept low and the place should be kept clean.”

As per reports, Ranbir and Alia are set to tie the knot on the night between April 15 and16 at the RK Bungalow in Chembur. The festivities are likely to begin on April 14. The bungalow has a sprawling lawn and is big enough to accommodate friends and family for the wedding. We hear that the guest list comprises close friends and family members. Ranbir apparently also wants to make sure that the technicians he has worked with over the years are on the guest list as well. Best friend Ayan Mukerji, Karan Johar, Aditya Roy Kapur are bound to be there.