Alia Bhatt, one of India’s most versatile and celebrated actors, graces Grazia India’s September Issue at a moment when her life and career are evolving into something bigger than legacy — it’s about the life she’s consciously choosing to shape. With critically acclaimed performances in films like Raazi, Gully Boy, Gangubai Kathiawadi, and Darlings, Alia has carved her place as one of the most defining actors of her generation. But her influence extends well beyond cinema, as the global face of brands like Gucci and L’Oréal, she’s also the force behind Eternal Sunshine Productions and her conscious clothing line Ed-a-Mamma. She continues to scale new heights as an artist and entrepreneur, while equally focused on embracing motherhood, self-prioritization, and living with authenticity.
Speaking with disarming honesty, Alia reflects on the pressure of perfection in the public eye. She shared, “I’m not going to try to project something that I’m not. There’s a responsibility as a public personality, but sometimes in the flow, you say things which is okay. One of the things I said in my speech for the Time 100 Impact Award was that I was winning an award, but I wanted to celebrate my flaws because I think there is too much pressure to be unflawed today.”
For her, imperfection isn’t a weakness but a marker of self-awareness. “I don’t have all my ducks lined in a row, and I don’t have all the right answers, I don’t have a lot of what you call behavioral finesse, but I’m okay with that – That’s who I am. If I’m pretending to be anything other than that, it’s not who I am.”
As a mother, Alia admits her roles are now influenced by new considerations. She added, “I haven’t made a film that my daughter can watch, so these are little things that come from within. The reason I’m being pulled towards a comedy is that I haven’t done one. You have to find something that’s inspiring you or pulling you towards it.”
Her personal and professional life intertwines beautifully, especially when working with her husband, Ranbir Kapoor. She admits, “It sounds cheesy, but there are no cons to this, only pros. The only challenge is maybe Raha’s schedule and time management. We’ve made most of the film at night, so mostly we’d be with her in the day. There are days he’s shooting, days I am, we’re not always shooting at the same time.”
Even amid major projects, red carpets, and global brand endorsements, balance remains non-negotiable. She said, “It’s about not taking on more than you should and working with people who understand your priorities and the need for balance. It’s become second nature, finding this balance. Every month, when I’m managing my schedule, I slot it in neatly; nothing is ambiguous. I love it, I’m on various groups and planning this and that. Yes, I’m speaking from an extreme place of privilege; I may not have the same story as the mother sitting next to me, but our intent is the same. To be working professionals and at the same time be present parents and to have a bit of both to be there, hands on, nurturing, growing.”
Through it all, Alia stays rooted in gratitude, summing up her philosophy with grace, “I keep coming back to the fact that I can’t sit and complain that I don’t have self-time it’s too much for me to not acknowledge how privileged I am and for me to be like ‘okay I have this problem or that’, for me I’m just always counting my blessings and being very grateful for what I have. I’m just always counting my blessings and being very grateful for what I have.”
In September, Grazia celebrates Alia Bhatt, not only as a global star, but also as a grounded mother, a producer with vision, and a woman who isn’t afraid to embrace her flaws. She represents authenticity, ambition, and balance – reminding us that true strength lies in being unapologetically yourself.
