‘NO ONE IS INVINCIBLE’

In 2016, she went from one extreme to another — albeit strictly on screen. So, if Udta Punjab had Alia Bhatt transform completely into a Bihari migrant, Dear Zindagi saw her portray an urban girl to perfection, while Kapoor & Sons had her portray myriad emotions seamlessly. But the 23-year-old says she isn’t “taking every step [of her career] very seriously”. Excerpts from an exclusive interview:

You have had three critically acclaimed and commercially successful films in 2016.

Yes, I can say that 2016 has been one of those years when there is nothing to complain about. My films have been loved and there is lots of appreciation and different characters to play. So, I am excited. But I also feel that I shouldn’t get into a comfort zone now, because it [successful films] should not end with just one year. Hopefully, it starts an upward kind of a trajectory. I shouldn’t take any of it for granted. So, I am happy, excited, motivated and charged, but I am aware that I shouldn’t take any of it lightly.

After all the success and accolades, do you feel a tad powerful?

I don’t feel that way because I genuinely believe that no one is invincible. I feel whatever maybe exciting about me today can be exciting about somebody else tomorrow. So, I don’t have any power. My films are being loved, and so am I. But if my films were not good, I wouldn’t get the love. So, there should be an understanding that you can’t separate yourself from the work you do. The minute I think that it’s all because of me, I will be delusional.

As an actor, where do you see yourself tilting more — critical acclaim or commercial success?

I won’t lie when I say that critical acclaim is always lovely. But commercial success is all about audiences, and that’s the ultimate, unanimous love that you get. So I wouldn’t limit myself to a particular thing. It depends on what you receive in that particular year. I really think that, as a creative person, you want it all. One would be lying if they say that they want only one thing. I am very happy that I got both this year.

(Clockwise from above) Stills from Udta Punjab, Kapoor & Sons and Dear Zindagi PHOTO: SATISH BATE/HT

SHAKUN BATRA, I think Alia was always a great actor to start with. It’s just that now she is getting roles that she can sink her teeth into. She is all about playing good, solid roles and that’s how she is going about choosing her projects. For a long time, we...