Karan Johar credits Imtiaz Ali for turning Alia Bhatt into an artiste

Alia Bhatt. Photo courtesy: Instagram/Alia Bhatt

#KaranJohar#AliaBhatt#RanveerSingh#ImtiazAli#Highway#RockyAurRaniKiiPremKahaani

Mumbai/IBNS: Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt was pitted opposite Ranveer Singh in ‘Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani’, a film by Karan Johar which is one of the big hits of 2023.

Now as the year is drawing to an end, Karan has come out thanking the two leads of the film in a long Instagram post.

In the course of the post, Karan has praised Alia, who is one of A-listers in the Hindi film industry now, for her acting skill.

Though Karan gave her the first break in Bollywood in the form of ‘Student Of The Year’, the filmmaker has credited Imtiaz Ali for shaping and moulding Alia as an artiste.

Alia Bhatt in Alia Bhatt in ‘Highway’ | Photo courtesy: Screenshot grab from YouTube

Karan writes, “I hadn’t directed Alia since 2012 and the day she walked onto set In her @manishmalhotra05 plus @mickeycontractor plus #flavian look I knew we had the Rani I had always envisaged …. What followed was an actor I wasn’t prepared for…. And I can take zero credit … will always be grateful to Imtiaz ali for taking her on a highway of life and moulding her into the actor she finally became …. SOTY is technically her launch but her true launch as an artist will always be highway…

“Alia is such a pride and pleasure on a film set…. She had a ticking kind constantly questioning Rani and trying her best to make her strong and yet identifiable and likeable … again for that I take no credit that is her evolution as an artist! Was blessed to have her as Rani Chatterjee and I do hope her character keeps resonating …. Love you @aliaabhatt.”

In ‘Highway’, which was released in 2014, starred Randeep Hooda alongside Alia. 

Alia, who started off with Karan Johar in 2012, was praised for her acting skill in ‘Highway’, the second film of her career.

Imtiaz Ali | Photo courtesy: IBNS FileImtiaz Ali | Photo courtesy: IBNS File

Since then, Alia turned no back and went on with multiple hit films including ‘2 States’, ‘Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania’, ‘Badrinath Ki Dulhania’, ‘Udta Punjab’, ‘Raazi’, ‘Gully Boy’, ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’, ‘Brahmastra: Part One- Shiva’.

She was praised for her acting in ‘Darlings’, which was released on OTT in 2022.

Alia Bhatt in Alia Bhatt in ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ | Photo courtesy: X/Taran Adarsh

Earlier this year, the 30-year-old actress received the National Award for her acting in ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’, where she plays a real life brothel owner.