Actress and filmmaker Pooja Bhatt, the elder daughter of Mahesh Bhatt, recently opened up about her sister Alia Bhatt and described her as an “upgraded” version of herself. Showering praise on Alia, Pooja said
the actress has navigated the film industry “marvellously,” something she admitted she could not manage during her own time in Bollywood. During the conversation, Pooja also spoke fondly about Alia and Ranbir Kapoor’s daughter Raha, saying she believes the little one is born to be an actor.
While speaking to Vickey Lalwani, Pooja Bhatt said that Alia is very different from her and there are no comparisons. She said, “Alia and I are very different from each other. I have had my time. This is her time, and she has certain attributes, and she has a certain way of navigating this business that I didn’t have. She is very astute. That game you are meant to play, she knows how to play it, and she does it marvellously.”
She further went on to praise Alia Bhatt’s choice of films and the level of dedication she brings to her craft, applauding her for consistently pushing boundaries with her performances and carving a unique space for herself in the industry. She stated, “I am talking about the choices she has made as an actor, the filmmakers she has chosen to work with, the hours that she put in with regards to rehearsing. Her choices as a human being, whether she chooses to speak or not speak, show her true self to the world; that’s her business. I am not here to tell her or anybody else how to lead their life.”
The Sadak actress then candidly spoke about her niece, Raha. She added, “Raha, Alia, me… I am not talking about Shaheen because she is not in that stream of acting. When you buy a new phone, you upgrade to a phone with more features. So I would like to believe that she is an upgraded model and there will be an even more upgraded model with her daughter when she decides to be an actress.”
On being asked if Raha will follow in her parents’ footsteps and become an actor, Pooja replied, “I think she is born to be one. Unless she becomes a NASA scientist… I don’t know. If you look at that child, she is riveting and look at the genes. There’s a spark. When she walks into a room, everybody pales in comparison. Your eye only wants to rest on her.”
She also weighed in on the nepotism debate, pointing out what she called the public’s hypocrisy surrounding star kids. Pooja stated that while people often criticize nepotism in the industry, the same audience is equally obsessed with Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor’s daughter Raha, often chanting her name whenever the couple makes public appearances, including at stadiums and events.
