Alia Bhatt Recalls How Shah Rukh Khan And Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Inspired Her

Alia Bhatt has demonstrated her acting prowess by taking on a diverse array of roles throughout her successful career in Bollywood. Her performances in films like Highway, Udta Punjab and Gangubai Kathiawadi highlight her versatility. As she prepares for her upcoming film Jigra, Alia recently reflected on the significant influence Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan have had on her journey in the industry.

During a chat with Allure for the Favorite Things Of All Time episode, Alia Bhatt was asked to share her thoughts on Hindi cinema. She mentioned that whenever she thinks of Indian cinema, the first name that comes to her mind is Shah Rukh Khan, particularly one of his famous dialogues. Alia recalled SRK’s iconic “Palat” line from the hit film Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. “Everything about Shah Rukh Khan just spells love,” Alia added.

Alia then mentioned Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as her second favourite. She shared, “I think for me a lot of my early understandings of movies, especially Indian movies, was music and songs and dance. It is a very, very large part of the celebratory factor of our movies. When it comes to learning or being inspired by somebody who’s embodied dance in the most beautiful way on screen, I can’t help but think of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. She was absolutely and is still just mesmerizing.”

Alia credited Aishwarya Rai for inspiring her and shaping her artistic mindset. The actress revealed that she frequently watched Aishwarya’s performances in films, especially when preparing for songs in her own movies. Alia noted that she would study Aishwarya’s expressions to capture the right emotions for her own performances. She admired the graceful movements of the Devdas star and how she carried herself with elegance throughout each act. Alia described Aishwarya’s performances as “perfect and precise,” adding that she is truly a sight to behold.

On the work front, Alia Bhatt is gearing up for the release of Vasan Bala’s upcoming film Jigra, which also features Vedang Raina in a key role. Additionally, she is set to appear in Yash Raj Films’ spy thriller Alpha, co-starring Sharvari. Beyond these, Alia will also star in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love & War, alongside Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal.