Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt has directed some of Hindi cinema's most memorable actresses. Yet, when he speaks about daughter Alia Bhatt, there is genuine surprise in his voice. During an interview when asked if he is proud of her daughter being the biggest star in the country, he first corrects us, 'one of the biggest stars of the country', and then goes on to say,

"She's astounded me because Soni and I never thought she had this kind of latent talent in her. We didn't really have what you would call a film culture at home. I kept making movies, but that was my work. When I saw her in Highway, I was astounded. I'm again astounded by her in Gangubai Kathiawadi. From where did she get that body language? She was never exposed to that kind of society or culture. I woke up to her exactly the way the nation woke up to her."

One compliment, in particular, convinced him she had truly disappeared into the character. "For me the greatest compliment to performance came from an event to Jharkhand. A tribal woman who watched Udta Punjab said she believed Alia belonged to her community. I thought, 'Oh my God, this is as real as it can get.'"

He goes on to add, "I always tell my children that whenever you feel you're soaring towards the zenith, remember you haven't even scratched the surface."

Asked whether he sees shades of his younger self in Alia, Bhatt smiles before saying evolution has made her better than the previous generation.

"She has a drive. Every generation is superior to the previous one. Evolution has its own way of improving itself. There is this thirst she has. She oscillates between Mumbai, Cannes, Singapore and Hyderabad, shoots films, fulfils professional commitments, comes back home and continues to play the role of a wife and a mother. It is an astounding kind of energy. (However), One of the greatest roles she's playing today is the role of a mother. It is very humbling to watch. You're such a big star, but you never make anyone around you feel that. The role of a mother becomes the most important role you will ever play. She's promoting films across the country, yet she's constantly running her home," he explains.

If Alia continues to surprise him as an actor and mother, granddaughter Raha Kapoor has transformed the entire family's dynamic. "She'll outdistance Ranbir Kapoor and Alia by miles. She's different. She has a different vibe. When she comes, the whole house becomes hostage to her energy. For those few hours, she becomes the centre of everything," he confesses.

Does he spend a lot of time with her? Bhatt replies, "I recently went with Neetu (Kapoor) to her school for her Grandparents' Day. Soni was in Istanbul. We were walking through a cloud of soap bubbles. I was holding Raha's hand while Neetu was holding the other. It was a beautiful moment. That was something which I remember doing with only Pooja. It brought back memories of walking with Pooja when she was little. Suddenly, time collapsed. She is a vibrant version of Pooja. (Eventually) The same kind of family."

Bhatt laughs while describing his unusual bond with his granddaughter. "She can't quite figure me out. She probably wonders, 'Who is this man and why does he speak the way he speaks?' I manage to tell her one story. She enjoys correcting me whenever I pronounce the name of an animal incorrectly. Soni is very protective of her. She has got the best Nani, and Dadi," he explains.

He continues, "And her father. Oh my God. I'm also astounded by the role he's playing as a parent. And they both are stars. It just shows that this narrative that, working actors especially stars neglect their children, which we heard in our days is a thing of the dark past and is not true anymore. Today you have better communication. You have CCTV cameras shooting for and you can see what's going on at home."

As Raha reminds him of Pooja, his eldest daughter, one cannot help but mention her. Bhatt's bond with eldest daughter Pooja Bhatt has often fascinated the industry, but he believes their closeness was forged long before fame arrived.

"When you become a father at 22 and you're struggling, life is different. I'd carry her water bottle to school. I'd wait around Bandra because I didn't have enough money to travel back and forth. I was unemployed. I spent a lot of time with her. I'd take her to my music sittings. She would sit there in her school uniform while the sessions went on. She, amongst my children, has spent the maximum time with me in those days. She has the courage to stand alone," he ends.

Alia Bhatt’s Alpha is set to hit the screens in less than a fortnight. The conversations at home then, we assumed, would be all about the movie.

Laughing at the thought, Soni Razdan, actor and Bhatt’s mother, revealed, “We talk about films less than people think we do. We talk about smaller domestic things, like babysitting Raha [Bhatt’s daughter] and what she’ll have for lunch. We talk a lot about food.”

Films surely can’t be far behind. In her 14-year career, Bhatt has become among the leading stars of Hindi cinema, building a filmography on stories that revolve around her characters — an exception for female stars. Razdan takes it all in with gratitude.

“She has been smartly intuitive in her choices. She probably gets offered many more [projects], but she chooses the ones her gut tells her to do. It’s remarkable because many people will go for banners and co-stars, but Alia is different and it’s paid off. You have to thank the universe for the good things that come your way.”

But with success also comes the trolling. For instance, last month, the actor was subjected to incessant negativity during her Cannes red carpet appearance, where online users alleged she wasn’t being clicked by photographers. Having been an actor for over three decades, Razdan understands that stardom comes at a price.

“You don’t need to react to everything. You can be objective. It’s a survival skill that you learn. If you can’t develop it, don’t be in this business. We get a lot of love. We don’t want to look at the other side at all.”

Such is the popularity of Animal (2023) among Ranbir Kapoor’s fans that they’ve kept their eyes peeled for Animal Park. As the superstar recently united with director Sandeep Reddy Vanga for a virtual press meet, ahead of the blockbuster’s release in Japan on February 13, the duo talked about the way ahead for the franchise.

Expressing his excitement to play two characters — Rannvijay and his cousin Aziz — in the sequel, Kapoor said, “I can’t wait to get back on set with Sandeep and play these characters. Sandeep and I keep chatting through the week or month and keep discussing different ideas.” Vanga, who is currently helming Spirit, shared that Animal Park will go on floors by mid-2027.

Besides Rockstar (2011) and Barfi (2012), Animal has become a career-defining movie for Kapoor. The actor admitted that Vanga’s faith in him convinced him to say yes to a “scary character”. “Before this, I was always playing the lover boy and coming-of-age characters. When Sandeep narrated Animal to me, I found the character extremely scary to approach for an actor like me. But [thanks to] his confidence, I believed I could do it,” he said.

Ranbir Kapoor said he felt a deep bond with Japan, thanks to his late grandfather Raj Kapoor. “I have such a deep connection with Japan. One of my grandfather’s most popular songs around the world is ‘Mera Joota Hai Japani’,” he reasoned, adding that he now wants to take his daughter Raha to the country. “I cannot wait to show Japan to her.”

Having completed 13 years in the film industry, Alia Bhatt finds herself at a point defined less by speed and more by intention – also shaped by her journey into motherhood. Looking back, the actress says her relationship with work remains instinct-led. “I don’t really look at my career in phases or milestones. The way I chose films earlier is the same way I choose them now – by trying to do different things, setting myself up for new challenges and constantly putting myself outside my comfort zone,” she tells us.

Meanwhile, life has expanded beyond the set, and what has evolved is the pace. “Of course, the volume and the speed at which I work now are different because I have a child. But it’s a comfortable pace, and I’m happy with it. I like doing one film at a time and giving it all my energy. Earlier, I would do two or three films simultaneously, but I don’t want to do that anymore,” she says.

Alia’s connection with cinema remains deeply emotional. “Movies make me happy. I’m finding ways to stay connected to that magic in different ways now, not just as an actor. I’m also producing content. We’re developing projects that will go on the floor next year, and I’m creatively involved in that process because I consider myself a creative producer,” she says, adding, “When it comes to my career, I’ve always gone by my instinct and gut.”

Her next release, Alpha, marks a shift into the action genre. “I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again – I don’t consider Heart Of Stone an action film for me. It was an action world, but my character wasn’t action-oriented in that sense. With Alpha, the opportunity to actually do action is something I’m supremely excited about,” she clarifies.

Doing the film post motherhood added a new dimension to the experience. “Doing action after having a baby was very interesting because it allowed me to see what my body is capable of. It was such a learning experience, and it gave me a lot of respect for my body,” she adds.

Unfazed by the unpredictability of outcomes, Alia says she doesn’t dwell on success or failure. “Success and failure are not in your hands. What is in your hands is learning, growing and finding a process that nurtures you as an artiste and as a person. Filmmaking is never about one individual. It’s an entire crew coming together to work towards one shared vision,” she concludes.

Alia’s next two films are among the most anticipated. First up is Love & War, which sees her reunite with Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal and Sanjay Leela Bhansali. “It’s a very special film. We’ve been shooting it through the year, and it never feels like enough. You always want one more day, one more moment, one more scene where you’re just jamming the energy,” she says.

Working with Bhansali continues to be one of her most cherished creative collaborations. She adds, “Working with Sanjay sir is one of my most treasured experiences because of the way he brings his magic to every single moment. But it’s also deeply collaborative. The energy on set is very quiet and focused. We come in, we work hard and everyone brings something different to the table. Of course, the final magic wand is always in Sanjay sir’s hands. It is one of the most fulfilling creative experiences I’ve had on a film set.”

Reflecting on Bhansali’s Gangubai Kathiawadi, Alia says the film reshaped how she approaches performance. “What I learned on the Gangubai set was to walk in every day with a blank slate and a blank mind. That element of surprise is something Sanjay sir thrives on, and it teaches you to surrender completely to the process.”

An eight-year-old Alia Bhatt was at her mum Soni Razdan’s house when she ran outside, excited to burst crackers. “We were definitely not climate conscious then,” she quips. Like every other child, she picked up a phooljhadi — only to burn her thumb after touching the wrong end of the burnt stick. “The whole evening, my thumb was in an ice bucket. I never played with phooljhadi again,” she laughs.

That is Alia's most memorable Diwali memory. Today though, her celebrations look very different — softer, warmer, and centered around her two-year-old daughter, Raha. As Alia sits down for an exclusive chat with Bombay Times , she opens up about her last Diwali at Vaastu — her Bandra home — and the light she’s carrying into her next chapter. Excerpts as followed...

Talking about Diwali, the Jigra actress says, "Diwali is a beautiful time, when the city lights up, and everybody just dressing up in their finest Indian attire. There is a literal reason for people to celebrate for days and days together. One of my top three cuisine is Indian. So I specifically love Diwali because wherever you go, you get the best Indian food to eat and you are allowed." So is she on a diet? She brushes it off, "No, not at all. I, actually, leading up to Diwali, go on a strict diet and workout regime, so that I can enjoy myself for the five days."

There’s a new lens through which Alia sees Diwali now — the wonder of a two-year-old discovering light. "Not just Diwali, every experience I have now is through my little child’s eyes,” she says with a tender smile, adding, "Like, how do we make this a memorable evening for her? Whether it’s our little puja or decking up the house. Yesterday we did DIY diya painting because she loves to paint. This morning, we’re making rangoli together. Last year, it was a phoolon ki rangoli because she was small, and I was concerned she might put the colours in her eye. So, I am going to attempt a full on rangoli which we'll do outside our home."

The festival this year also coincides with a personal milestone — moving into a new house with husband Ranbir Kapoor and daughter Raha. "This is our last Diwali in the home that she was born in. So, it's actually really emotional time. But it is also very exciting because I know she might not remember this specific Diwali but the years of memories will build up and it'll leave a feeling in her. And Diwali is all about feelings. It should feel warm and full of light," she says.

Ask her how she feels about this new chapter in her life and she replies, "It’s been many years in the making, and honestly, the feeling is just very overwhelming. I feel truly blessed to have this chapter in life. We’re in the middle of the moving-in chaos, but my heart is full. It’s a big dream coming together. The feeling is so large that I think it’ll only really hit us months or maybe a year after we move in."

Alia’s Diwali plans tonight are rooted in simplicity and wholesome. “Today, we’ll do our Lakshmi Puja followed by a sweet moment with our staff — we give them presents and thank them for being with us. Through the puja, Raha will be eating ladoos and running around! The rest I keep simple... I keep talking about this balcony a lot - where we've had so many evenings where we've gotten married, we've spent so many Diwalis with just a really close group of friends. So (this time) we're going to be doing exactly that this year. I'm cranking it up a notch. This year I'm going all out, because it's our last Diwali at home. So, the food menu also is all our favorites and all our Diwali specials. We have certain items on the menu that is very Vaastu specific - what we've eaten over the years. I'm really pushing it even though I'm kind of stretched thin between the house move. All our friends are coming. When I sent them the invite it read – Last Diwali in Vaastu. Please come and join. Bring a great attitude. The dress code is always festive but chill," she tells us.

For most, Diwali is about the shimmer — the gifts, the gatherings, the glow of new clothes. For Alia Bhatt, it’s about what lies beneath that sparkle. "When you talk about Diwali being the festival of light it talks about the triumph of goodness. That personally holds a very strong meaning in my heart because I believe in the power of goodness and kindness. No matter what, however rough or tough your day is, or your month has been or year has been, the ability to just look within and shine bright no matter what. Also have the ability to look at the light in the people around you. Diwali is a great way for us to remember the goodness and to celebrate the light within people. You can either go the non-lit part or you can go the lit part. And I choose light and goodness. Diwali is actually our way of showing gratitude and love to people that matter to us. It’s a great moment for you to pause and be thankful for where you are in life, to the people in your life, and to remember that it's always light over dark. Celebrate that light," she elaborates.

Of course, "also embrace the fashion" Alia admits. "That's also fun to get into your finest festive wear," she says, her festive fashion has evolved over with time. "I've gotten more excited about it and now I just love doing combo colors with me and Raha - Matching our looks. That's my drive. Now I'm more excited about how do we combine the looks? And she really likes it. She really enjoys dressing up. Now she's understanding Diwali. Even in her preschool, they've been playing this Happy Diwali song. And today she was doing the Happy Diwali dance. She really is into this. She loves dancing. It's really just about embracing all those little moments," Alia signs off.

Soni Razdan never imagined that the current chapter of her life would turn out the way it has. The actor, who is grandmother to Raha (daughter of actors Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor), says, “I thought this would be the time I’d be mellow and do nothing. But it’s turned out to be the busiest time of my life. It’s not just acting; life has completely taken over in many ways.”

Now, balancing her professional commitments with her personal responsibilities, the 68-year-old shares that her hands are “completely full” and “you’re hands-on busy,” she laughs, referring to her grandchild Raha. “There’s no such thing as sitting idle anymore,” she adds. Last seen in Songs of Paradise, Soni has largely stayed away from OTT projects, despite receiving many offers.

“I don’t want to do OTT because the kind of stories and content that are being made don’t align with what I’m comfortable with. I’m not someone who enjoys doing content that’s too edgy or explicit; that’s just not my space,” shares Soni.

This decision is rooted in artistic comfort rather than judgement. “It’s not about being resistant to change,” she says, adding, “It’s about knowing where you belong as an artist. I like keeping certain boundaries, and unless something meaningful comes my way, I’m happy staying away from that space.”

Ranbir Kapoor rang in his birthday with more than just cake and candles — he gave fans a front-row seat to his life and line-up of movies. During an Instagram live session, the actor dropped big updates: from Animal Park rolling in 2027, to Ramayana, and his much-awaited reunion with Alia Bhatt in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love & War. The session flowed easily – with the actor talking about his big-screen ambitions to the everyday happiness of being with family.

Ranbir gave an update about Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s much-talked-about sequel to Animal. The actor revealed that Animal Park is expected to go on floors in 2027. “Sandeep has been interacting with me on the idea, the music and the characters. It’s just crazy and I can’t wait to be on set,” shared the actor who turned 43.

The actor also gave everyone a glimpse into his personal life, sharing how he spent the day with wife Alia Bhatt and daughter Raha. “Raha made me a promise that she would give me 43 kisses, and I got that. She made me a beautiful card, which really moved me. It’s been a perfect birthday,” Ranbir said with a smile.

On his birthday, Ranbir took a quick vacation with Alia, Raha and mom Neetu Kapoor, and daughter Raha.

“Had a wonderful birthday last night. The last two days have been great because I was with mother, Alia and Raha. I couldn’t have asked for a better birthday,” he shared.

The live chat wasn’t just about films — it was also about what truly inspires him. Ranbir revealed his current mu-sic playlist and said that Barbaad from Saiyaara is a song that “resonates deeply” with him. He also praised the soundtrack of Kalyani Priyadarshan’s superhero film Lokah , describing it as “just excellent.”

When quizzed about his long-discussed directorial ambitions, Ranbir admitted he’s closer than ever to making it happen. “I am dying to direct a movie. I’ve actually started a writer’s room recently and I’m working on two ideas. It’s definitely on my to-do list in the next couple of years,” he shared.

On Brahmastra 2, he assured fans that Ayan Mukerji is busy writing the script and updates will follow soon.

Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt turned 77 yesterday (September 20), whi1e also completing 51 years in the film industry. Describing his journey as a “ride through highs, lows, and endless self-discovery,” he recalls, “I was privileged to meet a great filmmaker called Raj Khosla, who asked me if I knew anything about movies. I looked him straight in the eye and said, ‘No, sir.’ He smiled and said, ‘Zero is a great figure to begin from.’ That’s where it began.”

The road was far from smooth. “I stumbled and fumbled. I call the first 10, even 20 years, the wasteland years. It was only after Arth (1982) that I truly came into my own.”

Over the years, he witnessed changes in the industry and the growth of paparazzi culture, which he believes “won’t stop anytime soon”. His daughter, actor Alia Bhatt, has requested paps not to click photos of her two-year-old daughter Raha anymore. Even so, photos of Alia’s current residence as well as her under-construction house with husband, actor Ranbir Kapoor surfaced online recently.

While Alia called it an “invasion of privacy” and “security issue”, Mahesh says, “It’s the cost one has to pay for being famous. Success has a price tag and being a star comes with baggage.”

Mention Raha and the filmmaker shares, “My hands are full. I am just like any grandfather out there, be it in the slums or in the towers of the rich. I pretend to get scared of her. Our bond is just as ordinary as any grandparent would have with their daughter’s child.”

Though she is a part of Hindi cinema’s legendary Kapoor khandaan, Rishi and Neetu Kapoor’s daughter Riddhima Kapoor Sahni stayed away from the limelight for a large part of her life. However, her debut on the reality web show Fabulous Lives vs Bollywood Wives changed that. “I was excited. I’ve been such a fan of the series, so I took it up. Once we began shooting it felt like a vibe and like a party because I knew the other ladies on the show,” says Riddhima. In a conversation with BT, she talks about facing the camera at this point in her life and her bond with her family:

Talking about the filmi keeda in her since childhood, she says, “As a child, I was the one who used to perform all the time. I would dance with a dupatta in front of the family. I used to perform to the numbers from my dad’s movies and dance on tracks from Sridevi’s films. I would pose as a newsreader and read the news as they did on Batmya (news in Marathi) on Doordashan. But then, as I grew up, the switch happened. When we were in college, Ranbir said that he wanted to be an actor, and we all were surprised. I guess Ranbir opened up, and I sort of shied away. Then, I went abroad to pursue my studies. I met my husband (Bharat Sahni) in London, and we got married.”

Her attitude on the show is just like it is in real life, and much like that of her father, Rishi Kapoor. Riddhima shares, “If I feel something’s wrong, I will voice it. These things come very naturally because I say it on your face, and likewise, you can do that with me. I am very straightforward and frank. My mother was nervous about how I would be on the show because she knows I am fiery. My dad always said things that he felt honestly. He was mufat. I would rather be mufat than pretend to be something on your face and something else behind your back. I am proud of the fact that I am like him, I speak my mind like he did. Many of my dad’s friends sent me messages and said that he would have been proud seeing my real side on the show,” she shares.

Riddhima says that her equation with her brother has evolved over the years. She recollects, “We would fight a lot. We would start wrestling the minute our parents left the house. He would think I’m his older brother and try all his wrestling moves on me. Over the years, of course, that changed. Ranbir is soft-hearted and genuinely a good person. He’s someone you can talk to, confide in and share your problems with. He’s a good listener.”

About her brother being a father, she added, "Ranbir’s eyes light up when he sees Raha. Maybe he’s not as expressive as my father or me, but he is the most expressive when he is in front of the camera and now when he is with Raha. Otherwise, he keeps to himself."

From growing up in the public eye to becoming one of the most sought-after actors in Bollywood, Alia Bhatt’s life has been nothing short of a filmi story. In conversation with Sonal Kalra, Chief Managing Editor, Entertainment & Lifestyle, Hindustan Times at the 21st HT Leadership Summit held on Saturday, the National Award-winning actor floored everyone with her unabashed honesty about her personal and professional life choices, raising daughter Raha, and donning multiple hats as an actor, producer and entrepreneur. 

“I’m always taking India with me,” stated the Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022) actor at the beginning of the session, while talking about representing the country internationally, be it for a movie, a luxury brand, or the Met Gala. 

Bhatt, who looked resplendent in an ivory suit, opened up about the much-hyped discourse of her wearing her wedding saree to receive the National Film Awards. “[Almost] instinctively, I felt that I was going to wear my wedding saree (when her name was announced for the National Award). It was a garment I felt myself the most in. My wedding was a special moment [for me], and this was also a moment that felt special for different reasons. An outfit can be worn for a special occasion more than once. I don’t think I was doing something special!” 

Bhatt’s career seems to be going from strength to strength — from starting off as a young actor in Student Of The Year (2012) to turning co-producer for projects like Darlings (2022) and Jigra. Calling it a “creative ride” the actor shared, “Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently said [in one of his speeches], ‘There are no losers in life, only winners and learners’. This stayed with me, and I believe I’m a learner.” 

Considering her hands-on experience backing a project, can we see her in the director’s chair soon? Bhatt laughed and answered, “I would be a very impatient director. But never say never! I don’t have that kind of command over a story. I can aid other filmmakers get them together as a producer. Although Sanjay sir (Leela Bhansali, filmmaker) once told me, ‘I think you should direct a movie one day’, and I was like, ‘Sir?’ and he just said, ‘You will see’.” 

Give Ranbir Kapoor any role, and he will slip into it with ease. But the role that he holds the closest to his heart is being a father. Actor-wife Alia Bhatt and he became proud parents to Raha last November. While shooting for a special Holi episode of Indian Idol 13 on Monday, Kapoor opened up on how his world revolves around his four-month-old daughter now.

The actor shot for an episode of the singing reality show as part of the promotions for his upcoming release, Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar, also starring Shraddha Kapoor. On the show, contestants Ayesha and Rishi asked him about his biggest fear as a new dad.

A source from the set says, “Ranbir revealed that since late last year, he has been sporting a beard for his role in Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Animal. Since he had a beard when Raha was born, the actor fears how she will react when he shaves it off. Ranbir added that it will break his heart if Raha doesn’t recognize him in his clean-shaven look and avoids coming to him.”

Embracing fatherhood has brought a shift in him, the actor admitted on the show. The self-confessed “lazy” guy who loved spending hours in the balcony of his Bandra apartment has now transformed into a hands-on dad.

The source adds, “RK stated that he loves to help around the house, and take on duties like diaper-changing and patting his child’s back for burps. He joked that he has become the official burping specialist for his daughter Raha.”