Alia is meant for movies: KJo

Alia is meant for movies

Says Karan Johar about newbie Alia Bhatt, Mahesh Bhatt's second daughter, who stars in his latest film

Meena Iyer

Karan Johar's "Student Of The Year" — a high school campus drama with equal measures of love, romance, energy and music that is very Nassir Hussain-esque in its feel — is being highly awaited because it has three debutants.
Yesterday, you met Sidharth Malhotra in our pages. Today you're meeting Alia Bhatt. Daughter of filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt and actor Soni Razdan, Alia dreamt of being in films since the age of four — a fact that was brought to KJo's notice by his writer Niranjan Iyengar.
Karan recalls how a tubby, 17-year-old Alia came to his office in her school uniform. "She reminded me of a vintage Pooja Bhatt," he smiles. Of course his initial reaction was a 'no'. Nevertheless, KJo asked his casting director Nandini Shrikent to audition young Alia. "We tested around 500 girls — models, beauty pageant winners, girls from Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore and God alone knows which other city!" he recalls. However, what came as a pleasant surprise to him was that Alia made it to the initial shortlist of 10.
With pride and affection, Karan says, "You should've seen this tubby girl singing along to Sonam Kapoor's song "Bahara" from "I Hate Luv Storys", with all her jhatkas and matkas. It was hysterical! She was too good in it, putting her hair up and aping the typical Bollywood heroine to the hilt. I couldn't help thinking, 'Here is a modern, affluent girl who has the perfect mannerisms of a Hindi film heroine!' The moment I saw her name on the shortlist, I told my assistant director to call her in. I just asked her one question, 'Alia, will you lose weight?' Without blinking, she said yes. So I packed her off to a dietician and three months later she was back in my office 16 kilos lighter, looking svelte and exuberant!"
Like Sidharth, Alia too was kicked when she heard that Karan was going to be directing her debut film. "She screeched so loudly, I thought my ear drums would burst," says Karan. Being the youngest on set, this dynamite was pampered by everyone in the unit. Looking back, Karan feels it was well worth it. "See her on screen and you will know why I am saying that," he says. "Alia is meant for movies."
Dharma Productions and Red Chillies Entertainment's "Student Of The Year" releases on October 19.

Alia Bhatt

Knowing Pooja and Mahesh Bhatt, this girl can't be too healthy

oh well, here comes fun!

and how old was her parents when alia is was born I wonder? Mahesh Bhatt is like 64 now.