‘I’M NOT CONSCIOUS ABOUT MY AGE’
Alia Bhatt says she is particular only about her cakes on birthdays; adds that she has asked her sister to get her a ‘special’ one this year
She is at the top of her game, and has delivered back-to-back hits in the short time she has been working in Bollywood, but Alia Bhatt (above) says what she’s looking for is “constant growth”. As she turns a year older today (March 15), HT Café catches up with the young actor to talk about her plans for the day, growing older and her love life.
What’s the plan for your birthday?
It’s going to be my first birthday in my new house, so that’s going to be a first. Honestly, other than that, my family and friends make my birthday special. It’s an excuse to get together and celebrate. It’s not like I hate my birthdays, but I don’t really get into or understand big celebrations. I am turning 24, and am entering the mid20s zone. So that’s interesting.
You seem very excited to be in your mid-20s…
Yes, I am. I am not one of those people who are conscious about their age. Some people don’t want to ‘turn’ old, but I want to turn a couple of years older — not just one year — so that people don’t call me a ‘kid’ (smiles). It’s sweet and I don’t mind [being called] that, but turning older will take me away a little bit from that (laughs). Anyway, age is just a number. But maybe I am saying that because I am young (smiles).
Are you a big birthday person?
There’s one thing that I am particular about: cake. I have always made sure that my cake has been epic, ever since I was 17 or 18. So, if I am not able to get my cake, I tell someone else that I want this particular kind of cake. This time, I have told my sister (Shaheen Bhatt) that I want a white cake with chocolate inside it. Besides that, I don’t care much about gifts or parties.
With regard to your career, you seem to be in a great place.
Yes, I think I am in a very exciting place. I wouldn’t say that ‘I am now safe or that I have arrived’. It’s a very intriguing time in my life, because I am so taken up by the movies, people, work and creativity. It’s an exciting time to be a part of movies and just to be an actor in this generation. I don’t measure my success or failure. I am just looking for constant growth as a person and an actor. And the only way I will keep growing is if I continue flowing like a river. If I feel ki ab toh ho gaya (that I’ve achieved everything now), then I am putting a full stop to everything, which is boring.
Recently, you were in the news for receiving threats. Was it scary?
It can happen to anyone. My father calls them an occupational hazard. Honestly, since I was in the middle of promotions for my film, I didn’t want to be disturbed or bothered. My father sort of understood that and so I wasn’t bothered at all. He just said, “You need to know about it, but there’s nothing to worry about.” Thanks to him, the Mumbai and Uttar Pradesh police got on it immediately to make sure there were no problems. My family and other people have also faced things like these. It was dealt with very well. With my father and the police by my side, I don’t have anything to worry about.