New Delhi: After Kareena Kapoor Khan, Alia Bhatt has asked audiences to not watch her if they do not like her. In a recent interview, Alia spoke about her professional growth, her films, her recent release 'Darlings' and the entire debate around nepotism and the constant trolling 'star kids' are at the receiving end of. Alia told Mid-Day that the only way to shut this conversation is through her movies.
"I believed the only way I could shut the conversation down is through my movies. So, don’t respond, don’t feel bad. Of course, I felt bad. But feeling bad is a small price to pay for the work that you are respected and loved for. I delivered a film like Gangubai. So, who’s having the last laugh? At least until I deliver my next flop? For now, I am laughing!," Alia told Mid-Day.
“I can’t keep defending myself verbally. And if you don’t like me, don’t watch me. I can’t help it. That’s something I can’t do [anything about]. People have something to say. Hopefully, I will prove to them with my movies that I am actually worth the space I occupy. That’s the controlled person in me. The other person in me is like, ‘What the hell is this nonsense? Why is this happening for no reason?," Alia added.
Further adding that nepotism exists in every industry and that leveraging your position to get someone a job to help them happens everywhere. Alia expressed that if however, the person is unavailable to deliver, he is a loss to the company. The same happens in films. "Nepotism, in my opinion, exists in every industry. It’s leveraging your connections to help somebody get a position. You can similarly put somebody forward for a job in tech, marketing, or finance. But if he messes up that job, the company goes into a loss. [Likewise in films] the audience is the biggest barometer for success. If they believe you’re worth that success, they will give it to you. Another thing — how can I control where I am born, bhai? Tomorrow, if my child wants to get into acting or movies, they will have to work hard to prove. So you have to have a super thick skin [about it].”
The said comment by Alia drew comparisons with what Kareena Kapoor Khan had said about nepotism in 2020. "The audience has made us, no one else has made us. Same people pointing fingers are the ones who have made these nepotistic stars right? Aap Jaa Rahe Ho Na Film Dekhne? Mat Jao. Nobody has forced you. So I don’t understand it. I find this whole discussion is completely weird," Kareena had then said.
However, Kareena's comment was used in a negative light during her recent release 'Laal Singh Chaddha'. Both Aamir Khan and Kareena were targeted for various reasons and their film's business suffered because of the boycott calls.