A popular star of Hindi films for a decade with over 80 million Instagram followers, Alia Bhatt, best known internationally for her 2022 double Gangubai Kathiawadi and RRR, has fast become one of India’s hottest exports. “Any international recognition of an actor from India is recognition of India,” Bhatt told Deadline of her rising stardom as she sat attentively in the center of a grand drawing room at the Ritz-Carlton in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Bhatt was among a series of high-profile names, including Halle Berry, Andrew Garfield, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Nic Cage, who were announced as late additions to the popular ‘In-Conversation’ sidebar at KSA’s Red Sea Film Festival.
Upon arrival at the on-stage Q&A, she would be met with cheers that far exceeded her Hollywood counterparts. Here in Jeddah, there is no competing against the power of India’s biggest stars.
Below, Bhatt speaks to us about the buzz surrounding her career, including the experience of shooting Netflix’s Heart of Stone, her first English-language project, joining Yash Raj Films’ popular universe of spy movies, and whether she plans on returning to English-language filmmaking. DEADLINE: A lot has happened for you over the last few years, including your first English-language part in Netflix’s Heart of Stone.
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