Alia Bhatt Named Among Time's 100 Most Influential People of 2024 List (image-Instagram/aliaabhatt)
Bollywood actor Alia Bhatt seems to be on a roll. Adding another milestone to her illustrious career, Bhatt has made it to Time magazine’s ‘100 Most Influential People of 2024’ list. Tom Harper, the director of Bhatt’s Hollywood debut, Heart of Stone, penned a beautiful note for the actor.
Calling her a “formidable talent,” Harper praised her for leading with integrity in her other ventures, apart from acting – business and philanthropy. Recounting his experience with Bhatt, the director observed her grace, focus, humour, and self-effacing nature. Noting the actor’s willingness to take creative risks, Harper admired her “superpower” to “mix-movie star magnetism with authenticity and sensitivity.” He further added, “As an actor she is luminous, and as a person she brings the grounded assurance and creativity that makes a truly international star.”
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Born to filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt and actress Soni Razdan, Alia Bhatt made her acting debut in Sangharsh (1999) as a child actor. But her proper introduction to Hindi films and the audience was in Karan Johar’s Student of the Year (2012). Bhatt proved her mettle as an actor, surprising all with Imtiaz Ali’s Highway (2014). With a slew of romantic films from Dharma Productions, Bhatt started dipping her toes into other genres with brilliant performances over the years.
Playing a victim of drug abuse in Udta Punjab (2016), a young woman suffering from childhood trauma seeking therapy in Dear Zindagi (2016), an undercover spy torn between love for her husband and an even greater love for the homeland in Raazi (2018), the violent and possessive girlfriend in Gully Boy (2019), and the titular prostitute and brothel madame in Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022), Alia Bhatt has delivered excellent portrayals of women in difficult circumstances.
Expanding into the genre of black comedy, she gave another hilarious yet heartbreaking performance in Darlings (2022). She also co-produced, under Eternal Sunshine, the wildlife crime drama series Poacher in 2024. With a string of Filmfare awards, a National Award, the actor has never shied away from embracing jokes about herself.
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However, she is also successful in her business ventures. Bhatt launched her own sustainable maternity and children’s clothing brand, Ed-a-Mama, which has an estimated valuation of Rs 1.5 billion. She is also an investor in the beauty firm Nykaa.
In terms of philanthropy, the actor has always contributed to charitable organizations, such as auctioning off her sarees worn in Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani (2023) to raise funds for women’s healthcare or collaborating with NGOs to raise funds for underprivileged children. In 2018, she joined actor Aamir Khan’s Paani Foundation to help with on-ground watershed management work in Latur village in Maharashtra.
Bhatt recently celebrated her second marriage anniversary with actor Ranbir Kapoor, with whom she has a daughter.
With her upcoming film Jigra in the pipeline, Alia Bhatt has established herself as a notable name in Hindi film cinema.
