For over a decade, Alia Bhatt has been one of Bollywood’s most talked-about stars—and one of its most trolled. From memes to debates around nepotism, the actress has often found herself at the centre of online chatter. But her recent appearance on Samay Raina’s India’s Got Latent Season 2 has sparked a fresh conversation: Is Alia trying to win back critics and trolls by doing what worked for her years ago—laughing at herself?
A Decade Of Being Trolled
Alia’s relationship with internet trolls dates back to 2013, when she failed to answer a question about the President of India during her debut appearance on Koffee With Karan. The moment quickly went viral and became one of the biggest meme moments in Bollywood.
Over the years, criticism around her has gone beyond that infamous gaffe. Many have pointed to filmmaker Karan Johar’s support and her industry connections, accusing her of benefiting from privilege and nepotism.
Yet, despite the noise, Alia managed to silence many critics with powerful performances in films like Highway, Udta Punjab, Raazi, Gangubai Kathiawadi and Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani. Her acting often became her strongest response to the criticism.
How ‘Jigra’ Changed The Narrative
Things, however, appeared to change after the failure of Jigra. Marketed as one of Alia’s biggest action films, the movie failed to live up to expectations at the box office.
Its underwhelming performance reignited conversations around nepotism and privilege. Soon, criticism spilled beyond the film itself. From her interviews and social media posts to her red-carpet appearances at Cannes, Alia found herself facing intense scrutiny.
The negativity even seemed to impact the reception of Alpha, her upcoming film from Yash Raj Films’ Spy Universe. With the stakes higher than ever, Alia appeared to adopt a different approach.
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When Alia Turned Trolls Into A Pop-Culture Moment
This isn’t the first time the actress has faced relentless trolling. After her Koffee With Karan blunder, Alia surprised everyone by embracing the jokes instead of running from them.
In 2014, she collaborated with comedy group AIB for the viral sketch Alia Bhatt – Genius of the Year. The video hilariously mocked her public image and IQ, with even her father Mahesh Bhatt and sister Shaheen Bhatt joining in.
The strategy worked brilliantly. By roasting herself before others could, Alia shifted the narrative. People stopped laughing at her and started laughing with her. The sketch became a pop-culture phenomenon and helped rebuild her image.
‘India’s Got Latent’ And A Familiar Playbook
More than a decade later, Alia seems to be using a similar strategy.
Her appearance on India’s Got Latent Season 2, hosted by Samay Raina, saw her stepping into an environment where guests themselves become the subject of jokes. Contestants often roast judges, and no one is spared from witty remarks.
Instead of being defensive, Alia embraced the atmosphere. She interacted warmly with contestants, hugged them, danced with them and encouraged their performances.
One of the standout moments came when contestant Avinash Agarwal, performing as an “Indian Donald Trump,” roasted the actress. Alia admitted that she felt intimidated but took the jokes sportingly and laughed along.
Winning People Back?
Her easy-going attitude didn’t go unnoticed. While trolls continued to criticise her online, many viewers appreciated her humility and willingness to laugh at herself.
Social media users praised her for being relatable and not taking herself too seriously. For some, it brought back memories of the AIB phase when Alia managed to transform criticism into affection.
Whether this renewed goodwill will help Alpha at the box office remains uncertain. But one thing is clear: Alia Bhatt understands that not every troll can be fought. Sometimes, the best way to deal with criticism is to own the joke, take control of the narrative and let people see a different side of you.
And if her India’s Got Latent appearance is any indication, the actress may once again be succeeding in turning laughter into her greatest strength.
