Is Alia Bhatt Ready to Become the Next Superstar?

Alia Bhatt has come a long way in Bollywood. From facing trolls and criticism in the early days of her career, she has now become one of the most talked-about actresses in Indian cinema. Her choice of films has also changed over the years, and she is now trying different characters and stories.

Alia is once again in the spotlight with Love and War, her upcoming film directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. The makers recently released her first look from the movie. In the picture, Alia appears in a glamorous red outfit and seems to be playing a retro cabaret dancer. The look has created curiosity among movie lovers.

This is Alia’s second film with Bhansali after Gangubai Kathiawadi. The 2022 film became an important milestone in her career. Her performance received wide appreciation and also earned her the National Award for Best Actress.

Love and War also has a strong combination of actors. Alia shares the screen with her husband Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal. She has already worked with both actors earlier. Her film Raazi with Vicky was an important success, while she worked with Ranbir in Brahmastra.

Alia has also been trying to move beyond conventional commercial roles. Films such as Raazi, Gangubai Kathiawadi, Darlings and Jigra showed her interest in different kinds of characters. However, her recent box-office journey has not been completely smooth. Her 2024 film Jigra did not perform strongly at the box office, and her 2026 release Alpha, which also featured Sharvari, did not meet expectations.

Her last theatrical hit was Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani in 2023, in which she starred opposite Ranveer Singh.

Despite these ups and downs, Alia continues to receive major opportunities. Her association with filmmakers like Sanjay Leela Bhansali and large-scale projects such as Love and War shows her position in the industry.

The question now is whether Alia can reach the next level and establish herself as a true pan-India superstar like Naynathara. Her upcoming choices and the audience response to her future films will play an important role.

Love and War is scheduled to release in theatres on January 21, 2027.