Alia Bhatt has consistently delivered acclaimed and memorable performances over the decade. However, along with her professional success, she has frequently faced scrutiny and trolling on social media. Most recently, she was subjected to online criticism after her appearance at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival. In response to this ongoing negativity, her mother, Soni Razdan, has stepped forward to defend her daughter, saying that Alia’s achievements are the direct result of her hard work and talent.
In a recent conversation with Zoom, Soni Razdan addressed the criticism around the nepotism debate, suggesting it is unfair to blame Alia for her family background. Talking about her own career, Soni shared that she navigated the industry as an outsider and experienced her own struggles.
She said, “Alia can’t help whose child she is, it’s not her fault. I was not a product of the industry; I struggled as an actor and human being to come into this industry, and I am not even half or quarter as successful as many other women of my time. Also, the world does not owe you a living if you want to make it in the industry, and you are going to complain… When I came in, 101 people were children of people who were already in the industry. I didn’t even think about it. If I think about that, how will I do what I wanted to? So I was focused on what I was doing. Why don’t people do that? It’s very easy for people to blame; there is nothing fair about this world.”
Soni acknowledged that initial industry connections helped Alia secure her first audition, but mentioned that a sustained career requires personal ability. She said, “It is not Alia’s fault that she is Mahesh Bhatt and Soni Razdan’s daughter. Somebody called up and said they would like to audition her, but after that… Once that first step is over, it’s her hard work. If that audition had gone wrong and somebody had decided that she was hopeless, she wouldn’t have gotten the role. So there has been one thing after another which helped her to climb the ladder of success.”
Alia Bhatt attended the 2026 Cannes Film Festival as a global brand ambassador for L’Oréal Paris. During her time at the festival, she walked the red carpet, participated in the India Pavilion inauguration, and discussed gender-agnostic storytelling. While many praised her, her presence also sparked online trolling.
On the work front, Alia is currently preparing for the release of Alpha, a female-led action film in the Spy Universe, which also stars Sharvari, Anil Kapoor and Bobby Deol. The film will release in theatres on July 3.
Also Read: Pics: Ranbir Kapoor, Neetu Kapoor & More Arrive for Christmas Celebration at Soni Razdan’s Residence
By
By
