Did Alia Bhatt target trolls after Alpha flopped? Viral 'Mera baap bhi...' post explained

A screenshot claiming to show Alia Bhatt reacting to criticism over the box office performance of Alpha has been widely shared on social media. The image suggests that the actor posted a strongly worded Instagram Story targeting trolls. However, a verification of her official account shows that the viral screenshot is fabricated.

The alleged Instagram Story contains statements including, "Meri Film ko Flop bolne vaalo tum log kya ho main toh bina kuchh karre bhi Awards buy karr lungi, lekin tum logo ka kya? Tumbbad 2 bhi mujhe mili, tum logo ko kya mila? Ek ladki ki success nahi dekh sakta koi, mere upar Karan Johar ka hath hai, Mera baap bhi Mera kuchh nahi bigaad sakta."

The image quickly gained traction online, with several users believing it to be genuine. However, a review of Alia Bhatt's verified Instagram profile found no such Story or post. There is no evidence to suggest that the actor shared the remarks attributed to her.

The fake screenshot surfaced shortly after Alpha, starring Alia Bhatt and Sharvari, received mixed reviews and underperformed at the box office. While the film attracted attention as part of the YRF Spy Universe, its theatrical run has been weaker than expected.

This is not the first time a fabricated celebrity social media post has gone viral. Recently, another fake Instagram Story falsely attributed to Kangana Ranaut circulated online. The edited image claimed that she had supported intimate scenes featuring Yash and Kiara Advani in Toxic while criticising Deepika Padukone's performance in Gehraiyaan. That claim was also found to be false.

According to trade figures, Alpha collected around Rs 85 lakh on its twelfth day in theatres, taking its India net collection to approximately Rs 55.20 crore. The film was reportedly produced on a budget of around Rs 100 crore to Rs 130 crore.

Meanwhile, Alia Bhatt has two upcoming projects in the pipeline. She will next be seen in Love & War and Tumbbad 2, the latter of which was recently announced. Despite the online buzz surrounding the fake Instagram Story, there is no indication that the actor has publicly responded to criticism over Alpha's box office performance.