Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali and actor Sharvari are preparing for the release of ‘Main Vaapas Aaunga’, but another bond links them: their profound admiration for Alia Bhatt. Imtiaz directed Alia in the acclaimed road drama ‘Highway’, while Sharvari recently worked alongside her in Yash Raj Films’ upcoming spy thriller ‘Alpha’. Both stars opened up about their experiences with Alia, explaining why they value her not only as an actor but also as a person.
Imtiaz Ali Recalls Alia Bhatt’s Early Passion for ‘Highway’
During a conversation with Variety India, Imtiaz recalled noticing something special in Alia long before many others believed in her abilities. “She’s always been the same person, completely straight from the heart,” he shared. “I remember giving her the script to read when she was very young, and a lot of people were unsure whether she’d be able to pull it off. But I had seen something in her.”
The director remembered how eager Alia was after reading the script. “I asked her to call me after reading it. She said she’d call the next day, but she didn’t. Then another day passed, so finally I called her in the evening and asked, ‘Did you read the story?’ She said, ‘Yeah, I read it the same night you gave it to me. I even read it a few more times.’”
Imtiaz further explained that what impressed him most was the emotional honesty Alia brought to both her craft and personality. “When I asked if she liked the script, she said, ‘I loved it,’” he recalled. “I still remember the way she said ‘loved.’ There was so much heart in it. That’s what her performances are like too. They come straight from the heart.”
Praising her instinctive understanding of emotions, he added, “That is the basis of her technique as an artist and also her personality. I don’t think people necessarily mature with age. She was always someone who could sense and understand the complexities and layers of human behavior. She doesn’t even think of them as complexities. She simply emotes them naturally. That’s a gift she was born with.”
Sharvari Says She Found a Friend in Alia Bhatt
Unlike Imtiaz, Sharvari got to know Alia while shooting for ‘Alpha’. The actor revealed that their collaboration gradually turned into a genuine friendship. “I got to know her when I started working with her on ‘Alpha,’” Sharvari said. “We had a long journey together on this film, from prep to shooting. The best way to put it is that I found a friend in her.”
She also admitted that she initially felt overwhelmed working with someone she had admired for years. “I was always this Alia Bhatt fangirl. I never imagined I’d be able to call her up and ask for help. In the beginning, I was very star struck.”
Sharvari on Learning from Alia Bhatt
The ‘Munjya’ actor shared that working closely with Alia gave her an opportunity to observe one of the industry’s finest performers from close quarters. “But the best thing about her is that she instantly makes you feel like you’re on the same team,” Sharvari explained. “It was incredible watching a performer like her up close every single day, understanding her process and being able to ask for guidance.”
She concluded by saying the journey only strengthened her admiration for Alia. “I already loved her as a performer, but after this journey, I admire her even more for the person she has become.”
Meanwhile, ‘Main Vaapas Aaunga’, which also stars Diljit Dosanjh and Vedang Raina, is scheduled to release in theatres on June 12.
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