Alia Bhatt EXCLUSIVE: After working with Sanjay sir, there has been a change in me, my perspective has changed.

You started your career with ‘Student of the Year’ and now your career has completed 12 years, in which you have worked in films like ‘Udta Punjab’, ‘Highway’, ‘Raazi’, ‘Gangubai’, ‘Gully Boy’, ‘ There are many films like ‘Jigra’. Do you see your journey?

-Having lived so many diverse roles over the years, I have fallen more in love with my work. It is this aspect of acting that fascinates me the most and also inspires me that there are so many emotions to convey in a story and a character. I am very happy that I have worked with many talented directors and writers in my career and hope that this trend will continue in future also. As an actress, I aspire to see challenges in the characters and to come out of my comfort zone.

After 6 Filmfare Awards, a National Award is also registered in your account, people say that you and the awards have become complementary to each other?

-To be honest, while doing a film it does not occur to me that I will get an award for this film. While playing every character, my endeavor is to keep that film in mind. The story and characters should inspire the audience and they should take it with them. The awards certainly encourage us that we are on the right track. Talking about Gangubai Kathiawadi, its entire journey has been very special for me and when I got the National Award, it was undoubtedly a wonderful moment. Receiving this honor is a matter of great pride for any artist.

When did the phase of transformation come in your career and life?

-It is difficult to choose any one period. But there were many moments from which we learned a lot. At the age of just 19, I did my first film. In the second film, I got a chance to work with a director like Imtiaz Ali in ‘Highway’. Then this journey continued with many other talented filmmakers and writers. My first film as a producer ‘Darlings’ taught me a lot. Even though he/she took many lessons from his/her first Hollywood film ‘Heart of Stone’, there was not a single moment of transformation in all these years. Every opportunity took me to my best version.

How does it feel for Gangubai to win a National Award at such a young age? Was your role very complex and layered?

-Gangubai Kathiawadi has been the most difficult and challenging character of my acting journey. First of all, stepping into the world of Sanjay Leela Bhansali is a dream for any artiste. Personally, after working on this film with Sanjay sir, there has been a change in me, my outlook towards life has changed. I consider those two years very important for my life. I have no words for an honor like the National Award, it was an incredible experience. That was a very important day in my life, very special.

In Jigra, you showed strength in emotion as well as action, how challenging was it to do action on screen?

– With every film I try to think, what new am I doing this time? How am I challenging myself as an actor? I have to come out of my comfort zone and do something. Satya’s character in ‘Jigra’ is also similar, to what extent she can go to save her brother. The action was quite exciting and challenging.

As an actress, which role has you spent the most on?

-It will be very difficult to choose a character, every character has its own challenges and excitement. Her intensity, fearlessness in ‘Gangubai’, being a part of that environment in ‘Gully Boy’, empathizing with Badrunnisa in ‘Darlings’, and now high force action in ‘Alpha’. It is also a good thing that none of my characters overlap with anyone else and hopefully I will continue to do the same in future also.

You have also shot during pregnancy and after that your films have continuously proved to be a milestone, what message would you like to give to women?

-Parenting is a life long role, there is no correct rule book, you keep learning continuously. There are many other mothers like me, who are raising their children along with work. So there will be mistakes in this process, there will be something new to learn every day. No day will be the same. We should not be too strict on ourselves in this matter.

Through your roles you have always talked about women empowerment or women’s issues. Be it Highway, Raazi, Darlings or Gangubai, what bothers you the most as a girl?

-The only thing common among all the characters I played was that they all knew their self-worth. They all moved forward for their self-respect. As an actor, I have played such characters who have an identity, a voice, who believe in themselves without any doubt. So I also believe that today every girl should have confidence in herself and should not doubt herself. I don’t like it when girls look at their own skills with suspicious eyes.

There were many proud moments in your career and life, but when did you feel humiliation and rejection?

-There is a saying in English ‘There is always someone better than me somewhere’ i.e. there must be someone better than you somewhere, so never say that I have achieved everything. Or I know everything. Someone will be better than you. And I have always observed that there will be a lot of noise around you, but it is very important that you keep your head down and do your work. There are many moments which disappoint you, but you should cut off those external voices and work with confidence in yourself. Your work will speak for itself.

Tell us something about your upcoming film Alpha?

– I am very excited about this film. Can’t tell much at the moment, but this is a film in which two heroines will be seen in action avatar in the lead roles and it is very exciting for me.