Alia Bhatt, a renowned star in the Hindi film industry, has ventured into Hollywood with her debut English-language film “Heart of Stone.” While Alia has over 79 million followers on Instagram and has been a prominent figure in Indian cinema for more than a decade, her interest in an English-language project had been long-standing. Despite facing hurdles in materializing this aspiration, the opportunity to join an action franchise led and produced by Gal Gadot ultimately materialized, solidifying Alia’s belief in fate.
During an interview with The Associated Press in June, Alia shared, “Your first film chooses you. Technically, this is my first English-language movie. It chose me, and I’m so happy it did.”
Scheduled for global release on Netflix, “Heart of Stone” is a globe-trotting spy thriller in which Alia portrays the role of a tech prodigy named Keya. Her role is significant and integral to the intricate plot, marking a departure from her accustomed lead roles in Indian cinema.
Incorporating her perspective on accepting the supporting role, Alia emphasized the importance of substance within her character. She ensured her portrayal was not confined to fulfilling a mere “South Asian” representation but contributed to and influenced the storyline itself.
Alia remarked, “The way I judge it is if you take the character out of the story and you still have a film, then that character’s not important.”
Part of her enthusiasm to embrace the role stemmed from working alongside Gal Gadot, who also holds a pivotal role in producing the film. Director Tom Harper highlighted the dynamic between Alia’s Keya and Gadot’s character, Rachel Stone, as a driving force of the film’s excitement. He praised their chemistry and the engaging banter they share.
Alia also noted similarities between Hollywood and Indian film sets, with the main distinction being shorter working hours on the former. She fondly recounted her experience of being pregnant during the shoot and observing some of her actions on-screen, brought to life with the assistance of stunt doubles and digital effects.
The release of “Heart of Stone” concludes a momentous year for Alia. Beyond her Hollywood debut, she welcomed her first child, graced the Met Gala, and became the first Indian house ambassador for the luxury brand Gucci. Her venture into production, marked by her first film “Darlings,” released on Netflix as well, has been both rewarding and challenging.
Having grown up in a family deeply connected to Bollywood, with her father Mahesh Bhatt as a renowned filmmaker and her mother Soni Razdan as a former actress, Alia acknowledges the valuable insights she gained from her family’s experiences. Despite her stature, she remains grounded, following her father’s advice to maintain a certain distance from fanfare.
In regard to her Hollywood aspirations, Alia admires Priyanka Chopra Jonas for her pioneering journey but acknowledges the distinction in their paths. She praises Priyanka’s audacity and describes her as an inspiration for young Indian girls aspiring to be global icons. While Alia has no plans to relocate to the US like Priyanka, she envisions a future involving international opportunities alongside her commitments to Indian cinema.
Alia humbly acknowledges the unknown path ahead, stating, “I still don’t know what I’m doing. It’s just this one film, and we’ll see how it goes from here.”
