We Bet You Didn’t Know These 10 Facts About Alia Bhatt

She's on top of her game right now, and her much-anticipated Bhansali release, Gangubai Kathiawadi, won't fail to impress either retort fans. She has worked her way up the ranks in the film industry; the 28-year-old superstar is a force to reckon with, with filmmakers vying for her attention. Presenting Alia Bhatt, the actor whose successfulness was questioned post her debut film, Student of the Year (2012).

It's been a decade since her big break, and geez, has she come a long way! Over the years, Alia has proven her acting prowess with powerful performances as Veera in Highway (2012), Kumari Pinky in Udta Punjab (2016), Sehmat in Raazi (2018), and Safeena in Gully Boy (2019), and will expectedly continue to do so. While we've learnt much about the celebrity in the years, there's a lot we bet you didn't know. 

From coping with mental health issues to her ideal first date setting, we spill some lesser-known secrets about the Bollywood star. 

 

Call Me By These Names

 

Growing up, Alia was lovingly called 'Aloo' by her friends, which means potato, she revealed in an interview with Filmfare. Her father, Mahesh Bhatt, played around with this nickname, eventually giving way to a slew of quirky monikers, including 'aloo kalu,' 'aloo baalu', and 'batata vada'. 

 

Her Ideal First Date

 

In an exclusive interview with Cosmo back in 2013, the actor said, when talking about her idea of a first date, "You get to know each other better in a more comfortable setting rather than a formal place. Think of a bowling alley or a new restaurant that has received great reviews, or even a karaoke place. The idea is to go to a place both of you will enjoy and where you’ll get to discover more about each other." 

 

Her *Real* On-Screen Debut

 

Fine, Student of the Year is her Bollywood debut, but technically, she entered showbiz at the age of six, making her first on-screen appearance in Sangharsh (1999) as young Preity Zinta. The psychological thriller was produced by her uncle, Mukesh Bhatt.

 

Prepping For Her Big Bollywood Break

 

We don't mean to touch upon the nepotism debate, but to let you in on some facts: Alia Bhatt was required to compete alongside 400 other candidates to bag her role as Shananya Singhania in Student of the Year. She also reportedly dropped 16 kgs in weight for the role at the mere age of 18. 

 

Opening Up About Her Mental Health

 

"I haven't been depressed but I've had bouts of anxiety. It comes and goes. It's been happening quite a bit since the past five to six months. It's not like an anxiety attack but I just feel low. Thankfully, I'm aware of it because of my sister. She's fought depression. I've read her book," the celebrity revealed in an interview back in 2019, during Kalank promotions. She went on to add, "No matter how bad it is, I just let myself feel it. Sometimes, I feel like crying for no reason. Then it passes. Initially, I'd be a little confused. I'd constantly give reasons that it's because of work or maybe I'm tired or haven't been able to meet anyone. The kind of personality I have, I become a little on the edge. I spoke to friends about it...Everyone told me that you've got to realise that it will go away. What's important is to accept it and not say that you're fine. If you're not feeling fine, then you should just say you're not feeling fine."

 

Her Love For Men's Perfumes

 

During an interview in 2019, Alia revealed that she finds most women's perfumes too fruity. In addition, she admitted that she admires Arjun Kapoor’s taste in scents—he was the one who introduced her to Tom Ford’s scents. "Smelling good is very important to me. People associate other people with their fragrance, so wear something sexy. It really makes a difference," she told Cosmo in an exclusive interview. 

 

A Professionally Trained Dancer

 

For her role as Roop Chaudhry in Kalank (2019), the actor took formal lessons in Kathak—one of the eight major forms of Indian classical dance—for a whole year. During film promotions, she'd spoken about the challenges of the traditional dance form, revealing that the twirls were the hardest for her to grasp. 

 

The Feathers in Her Cap

 

Alia Bhatt is also trained in dance from Shiamak Davar's Academy and in music, too, from A.R. Rahman's music school. She has done playback singing for her films, including Highway (2014) and Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania (2014), with one of her most popular tracks being 'Samjhawan'. Her other hobbies include playing handball and charcoal sketching. 

 

Her Music > Your Music

 

Reportedly, the star doesn't trust many people's taste in music. She has revealed that she used to carry her own CD's to parties, as she was unsure of the songs that would be played.  Some of Alia's favourite songs include 'Le Gayi Le Gayi' and 'Que Sera Sera'. 

 

She Can't Vote in Indian Elections

 

During an interview, the actor revealed that she cannot vote because she holds a British passport, which restricts her from casting her vote in Indian elections. Soni Razdan, her mother, is said to be of German descent and was born in Birmingham, England. Alia's maternal grandmother's name is Gertrude Hoelzer.