Bollywood flair meets BAFTA: Alia Bhatt speaks Hindi, audience listens | WATCH
London: Bollywood star Alia Bhatt made a striking debut at the 79th British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA), adding a touch of “desi tadka” as she presented the award for Best Film Not in the English Language.
Held at London’s Royal Festival Hall, Bhatt greeted the audience with a traditional “Namaskar” before explaining in Hindi, “Agla award ek aisi film ke liye hai, jo angrezi mein nahi hai.” She quickly clarified for the international audience, saying, “Don’t reach for the subtitles just yet. I was only saying in Hindi that the next award is for a film not in the English language. While films speak in countless voices, what we always celebrate is the language of cinema, and that one we all speak fluently.”
The nominees she announced included It Was Just an Accident, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, Sirat and The Voice of Hind Rajab.
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Ahead of the presentation, Bhatt spoke on the red carpet about her daughter, Raha. “My true source of inspiration and magic right now is my daughter. Looking at her, she just blooms. She’s three now and dancing to my songs. Sometimes I think, ‘Ok, that is life,’” she said.
Bhatt joined a star-studded line-up of presenters including Bryan Cranston, Cillian Murphy, Ethan Hawke, Kate Hudson, Michael B. Jordan, Sadie Sink, Alicia Vikander, Gillian Anderson, Glenn Close, Patrick Dempsey and Riz Ahmed.
The Manipuri-language film Boong, backed by Farhan Akhtar, won the prestigious Best Children’s & Family Film award.
On the acting front, Bhatt will next appear in Alpha alongside Sharvari, Anil Kapoor and Bobby Deol, and is currently shooting Love and War with Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal.
(IANS)