When Mahesh Bhatt revealed he made THIS film to impress Alia Bhatt; ‘I might just…’

Mahesh Bhatt, an established filmmaker with a history of creating powerful movies in the 90s, switched gears by directing a comedy-spiced film, Duplicate, specifically for his daughter, Alia Bhatt. This change came after a series of realistic films like Sadak and Sir that marked his success during that time.

In a previous conversation with Lehren Retro during the filming of Duplicate, Mahesh Bhatt shared his motivation for changing genres. He expressed that the movie was one he wanted to share with his children, implying that some of his prior films might have been too intense or grim for them. The director mentioned his desire to captivate Alia, who was only four at the time, saying, “It’s unusual for children not to be impressed by their parents. There’s a possibility I could impress my four-year-old daughter Alia with Duplicate.

1998 saw the debut of the film “Duplicate,” which starred Shah Rukh Khan, Juhi Chawla, and Sonali Bendre in its main roles. Gulshan Grover, Mohnish Bahl, Farida Jalal, Sharat Saxena, and Tiku Talsania played significant parts as well. This production was a joint effort by Karan Johar and his father Yash Johar. Farah Khan, known for her work as a choreographer, also contributed to this comedy-action-thriller, marking the start of her career in filmmaking.

In the context of confusing characters’ true natures, the narrative unfolds around a chef falsely accused as a criminal. Previously, Shah Rukh Khan portrayed a villain in a movie directed by Mahesh Bhatt.

Years passed, and I, an ardent admirer, found myself starstruck when Alia appeared in Mahesh Bhatt’s film back in ’99, portraying the younger self of Preity Zinta’s character in Sangharsh. Fast forward to 2012, my heart skipped a beat as I witnessed her grand Bollywood debut with Karan Johar’s Student Of The Year.

Alia Bhatt is born to esteemed movie director Mahesh Bhatt and actress Soni Razdan, with an older sibling named Shaheen Bhatt in the family as well.

In terms of her career, Alia has a thrilling array of upcoming projects which feature Love & War and Alpha. Love & War is an extensive tale that will bring her back in front of the camera alongside Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal. This highly anticipated film is set to hit theaters on March 20, 2026.

Simultaneously, Alpha marks the debut of a female-led spy film within the YRF Spy-verse, headlined by Alia and Sharvari.

Or more casually:

In the same breath, Alpha is the first women-led spy movie in the YRF Spy-universe, with Alia and Sharvari taking the lead roles.

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2025-01-22 11:22