Alia Bhatt spoke to Divya Kaushik about the controversy surrounding Saifai Mahotsav and said she feels bad for not being aware
Admitting ignorance is the safest defense and Alia Bhatt learnt it early in her career. “I do feel bad for not being aware,” she said when she was asked about her performance at the Saifai Mahotsav, which created controversies. Mahotsav organised in Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav’s native village, Saifai, was criticised for not using the huge amount of money, spent on the celebrations and actors, for the rehabilitation of Muzaffarnagar riot victims. Alia preferred not to comment on it immediately after it was over but while she was here to promote her forthcoming film, Highway, she said she did feel bad about how the matter was blown out of proportion. “I don’t want to keep talking about it and stretch the topic since it is over now. But one thing I want to say is that we are not sadists that we will perform and have fun while others are suffering. None of us actors who participated in it wanted to hurt anyone. I do feel bad for not being aware. I was aware of the riots that happened last year but I didn’t know about the circumstances in which the Saifai Mahotsav took place and that’s something I feel bad about. I genuinely feel I should be more aware of such happenings. The matter was blown out of proportion and it is unfair to call us inhuman. Actors like Salman Khan performed at the event and we all know how much he cares for the society and how much he contributes for the welfare of people,” she said.
Her father later came up with an apology on Twitter and said that he failed as a father for letting her perform at the Saifai Mahotsav. “He did not apologise for me, he apologised for him not knowing about it. Even he, who is so politically aware, didn’t connect with what had happened. But it’s good to accept one’s mistake and my father did that,” she added. The actress was quick to switch the topic.
Alia will be seen singing for the first time in Imtiaz Ali’s next. “It was Imtiaz’ idea, who heard me singing on the sets. AR Rahman sir helped me sing the way it was required and it was a good experience. I don’t know where this singing will lead me to but as Rahman sir suggested, I will take out time and start learning piano soon,” she said.
The actress who plays the role of Veera shared that it was “physically and emotionally challenging to play the character.” Most dialogues were decided on the spot and she had no references to learn more about her role. “Imtiaz wanted me to stay raw and just be me so everything happening around affected me in a right way. Veera talks to herself and is little wild and her character required a lot of spontaneity. It was physically a challenging role as there is a lot of action and it is not choreographed action, everything is on the spot. So at the end of the shoot my body would ache but I kept on telling myself that I am loving what I am doing and I am working hard. I also lost a lot of weight. Since we were continuously travelling and I was missing my work out I ate very less and avoided the dhaba khana, which everyone else was having,” she said.
Her next is Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhaniya. “I play a girl from Ambala. There are interesting dialogues, like ‘chal pare hat’, I am really having fun,” she said.