Film-maker hails Bhatt’s acting skills

ACTRESS Alia Bhatt has raised the bar for herself in cinema with her role of Sehmat Kaur – the Indian spy – in the movie Raazi, says film-maker Meghna Gulzar.

“Alia performed quite challenging scenes in the movie. She would be trembling before you say ‘action’ but the moment the camera rolls, you see the performer in her taking over everything.

“She has raised the bar in acting for herself,” said Gulzar, the daughter of veteran lyricist-poet Gulzar.

The film-maker, who showed the India-pakistan spy drama against the backdrop of the 1971 war through the film, said Bhatt was her first choice for Sehmat and she remained the only person she could think of who would fit the role.

“I could not see anyone else play this part. If she had not done the film, I don’t think I would have made it. Alia’s vulnerability and fragility fitted the character that I imagined. I am grateful for the belief she had put into the character and brought it to life.”

Besides Bhatta, Raazi, which became the first female-led film (non-franchise) to earn more than 100 crore (R15 million), also features actors like Vicky Kaushal, Alia’s mother Soni Razdan and Rajit Kapur.