I don’t dream about my wedding, I dream about attending Oscars: Alia Bhatt

Alia Bhatt feels people who say they aren’t afraid of losing their stardom are “lying”; adds that her dream is to win an Oscar one day.

She hasn’t got “even a single day off” since January even though she would like to “take a day off every week or a couple of leaves every month”.

Alia Bhatt feels people who say they aren’t afraid of losing their stardom are “lying”; adds that her dream is to win an Oscar one day. (HT Photo)

But Alia Bhatt is not complaining.

The actor says having no work to do is worse. Here, the 23-year-old talks about her effort to break away from her glam image, her new film with Shahid Kapoor, her big Oscar dream, and more.

You have been working constantly.

I am enjoying it, but it keeps me very busy. Too many things are happening at one time. I wrapped up Gauri’s (Shinde; director) film, and then I started work on my next with Varun (dhawan). Now, I am promoting my upcoming release. I have to do all this because I have made a commitment. So, I have no choice. It is good in a way, but I think now it is taking a toll on me.

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This also proves that you are in demand.

Maybe, right now. I won’t complain (laughs). But I had a conversation with my manager a few days back, where I said that once my next is released, I need to take some time off. I am feeling too exhausted. I am not able to give my 100%. Soon it will start showing on my face, and as much as I try, it will affect my energy levels. So, eventually, I am the one who will suffer.

You have been experimenting with the kinds of roles you do. Do you keep the audience’s preference in mind while choosing your films?

Most importantly, I want to challenge and shock myself. I do think about audiences in a way that I will act responsibly for the people who follow me or look up to me. But when I take up a part, I know that no matter who is watching my film, and how much you love or hate me, you will only take away a positive message from my character. Having said that, I still – someday – want to play a negative character, like Shah Rukh Khan’s in Darr (1993).

Read: I feel I don’t do enough for my mom, says Alia Bhatt

Do you ever fear losing your fame and stardom?

Of course, I am petrified. Anyone, who says they aren’t scared of the day when their stardom, craze, love, appreciation and affection will die down, is lying. I have a major fear of failure ever since I was a kid. Sometimes, I would hate taking part in school races thinking that if I lose, I won’t be able to take it. So, I don’t know how it will be when I lose, but the aim is to live on forever with the love that I have managed to gain from the audience through my films.

Going by your role in your upcoming film, it seems you want to break your glamorous image.

Yes, there’s a conscious effort to break away from that. But I am also fortunate enough to get such opportunities. Had I not, I would still be doing the same roles that I have been doing all this while. Even when it comes to glamorous roles, I want to break away a little bit; I want to do something different, which I am doing in my next with Varun. It is very important for me to do ‘real’ films like my upcoming movie, so that audiences know that I can do both kinds of roles.

In your filmography, where would you put your next film, co-starring Shahid?

In terms of challenge, it goes right at the top. It is the most challenging part that I have played till now. I remember that every day I would come back to the hotel [after the shoot], and would be so exhausted that would sit with my legs in a tub full of hot water mixed salt. It wasn’t just physically, but also emotionally draining for me. Also, I wasn’t my natural self, so I was constantly ‘acting’ as I couldn’t relate to the character at all.

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You just wrapped up a film with Shah Rukh. Are you now a bigger fan of his?

I have definitely become a bigger admirer of him. I have always been a fan of his work, and now that I have seen how he works, I can safely say that now I admire him 10-folds. He is such a delight to work with. He is so professional and so giving as an actor.

Are you finally working with your dad’s (Mahesh Bhatt) banner for Aashiqui 3?

I am definitely interested in doing the film. The reason why I haven’t spoken about it is because there’s no official confirmation till now. The film is still in the scripting stage. So, I don’t think it is the right time to say that I am doing it, as I need to read the script first. It is Aashiqui 3 at the end of the day; and it will be great if that can be my first film for my dad’s banner. So, hopefully, it will all work out.

Read: Sidharth is so gorgeous, I can get lost in his eyes: Alia Bhatt

Here is Alia’s take:

On a reported fight with alleged beau Sidharth Malhotra

I haven’t fought with Sid, and I don’t have any reason to fight with him. He will always be a very close friend of mine. We are supportive of each other. I also asked him casually about his dinner with a ‘mystery’ girl (which was reported a few days ago), and he said, “I didn’t go for one.” I know he has been working non-stop. He hasn’t even been in the country. I have known him for the longest time now, even before I became an actor. We started off together, and, of late, we have been spending a lot of time together. I have developed a fondness for him, and he will always be an important part of my life.

On her Oscar dream

I don’t dream about my wedding day, as much as I dream about attending the Oscars, and walking the red carpet. I imagine that my name will be announced, I will pretend to be shocked, will go up on the stage, hopefully without falling, will give a speech followed by a little bit of crying, and then I will leave. If I talk about this to anyone, they will be like, “What is she talking about?” I know it sounds very far-fetched. But as Muhammad Ali had once said, “If dreams don’t scare you, then they aren’t big enough.” I will start off by winning a National Award, and then I will go on to win an Oscar (laughs).

On her Marriage plans

Marriage is not a dream. It is part of life, and of course, I will get married someday, because it is not like I am against the institution. I am also a big romantic at heart, so I want to celebrate that feeling. But I am way too ambitious to sit and think when I will get married. There is no plan of settling down right now. As I have said earlier, too, 32 is a good age to get married because I want babies, so I have to plan a bit (smiles). But I am 23 right now. However, I feel anything can happen, and I can change my mind four years down the line. So, you never know.