Alia Bhatt is undoubtedly one of Bollywood’s finest actresses today. Whether it’s her captivating screen presence, acting prowess, or her choice of roles, she has created a unique aura on the silver screen. Alia dives deep into her characters, earning widespread appreciation for bringing them to life.

Alia Bhatt Student of the Year

From her intense performances in films like Highway, Gangubai Kathiawadi, Udta Punjab, Darlings, and Raazi, Alia has left the audience in awe. Her natural charm and simplicity set her apart from her peers. However, her journey to becoming one of Bollywood’s leading ladies wasn’t instantaneous.

When Alia first appeared as a lead actress in 2012 with Student of the Year, her performance received mixed reviews, and many critics felt she had a long way to go.

But with subsequent films, she silenced her critics and, by 2016, had firmly established herself as one of Bollywood’s most talented actresses. She even expanded her horizons to Telugu cinema with RRR and ventured into Hollywood with Heart of Stone.

Surprisingly, Student of the Year was not Alia’s first Bollywood appearance. Her actual debut occurred when she was just five years old, in the 1999 film Sangharsh, which was similar in theme to the 1991 thriller The Silence of the Lambs.

Sangharsh featured Preity Zinta and Akshay Kumar in lead roles, with Ashutosh Rana portraying the antagonist. In the film, Alia made a brief appearance as the childhood version of Preity Zinta’s character. Though her role was short, it played a crucial part in shaping the character’s backstory.

Sangharsh itself received mixed reviews, but its plot and storyline were praised, especially Ashutosh Rana’s performance as a psychotic villain. Notably, the movie was one of the rare films of its time to focus significantly on the female lead’s perspective, with Preity Zinta’s character driving the narrative.

Thus, Alia’s Bollywood journey actually began 25 years ago when she shared screen space with three established stars, albeit not directly due to the storyline.

Today, Alia continues to make strides in Bollywood. She will soon be seen in Jigra, set for release on October 11, and is currently filming for Alpha, with the release date yet to be announced. Alia’s journey in Bollywood is far from over, and she is poised for even greater achievements. But it all began with a young five-year-old making her debut in a crime thriller back in 1999.A