I always wanted to make it on my own: Alia Bhatt

You’d think being filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt’s daughter would open many doors for Alia Bhatt in Bollywood. However, the actor, who is all of 19 years old, has always been clear about the fact that she doesn’t want to take the 'easy' route to Bollywood.

You’d think being filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt’s daughter would open many doors for Alia Bhatt in Bollywood. However, the actor, who is all of 19 years old, has always been clear about the fact that she doesn’t want to take the 'easy' route to Bollywood. The result: she was cast in Karan Johar’s Student Of The Year (SOTY).

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“I always wanted to make it on my own and I am happy to have achieved that. Right from the beginning, I had decided that I don’t want to be launched by my father’s company (Vishesh Films). Honestly, it would have been an easier way (for me). After all, why wouldn’t my father launch me?” says Alia, about Bhatt senior, who is known to launch new actors in his films.

But Alia, who is also veteran actor Soni Razdan’s daughter wanted to 'experience something else'. She adds, “In addition to losing weight and grooming myself in a way that I would be accepted (in the film industry), I also had to audition for the role.”

SOTY will also feature newbies Siddharth Malhotra and Varun Dhawan (director David Dhawan’s son).

I have always been fond of Hindi movies, and I couldn’t have asked for anything better. I remember when I found out a year ago that Karan would direct me in my first film; I just couldn’t sleep that night.”

Since Mahesh and Soni have been part of the film industry for several years, does Alia ask for their advice? “Of course, they are always there for me, but I would like to do whatever I can (in my career) on my own,” says Alia.