Alia Bhatt gave an interesting interview to Huffington Post India where she spoke at length about her career defining role in Udta Punjab, the need to be ‘perfect’ all the time and her personal life. One thing she said about talking about her relationship in public particularly resonates with most Indian women who have an active dating life. Here are a few excerpts from the interview –
You know, there’s a general tendency in India to constantly ape the West. Which is good and bad. Whether it is films, fashion, pop-culture, it’s perhaps not too wrong to assume that it descends from there and subsequently becomes a thing here. But what our stars have never managed to handle well is relationships, which Hollywood is pretty open about. Why the conservatism when it comes to talking openly about love?
Because ours is a very real price to pay. In India, you are a part of a society that’s very judgmental. Here, girls having multiple boyfriends is still a huge-ass deal and something that is frowned upon. I mean, look at Taylor Swift. She’s dated, like, everybody. But if she was here, she’d be totally shamed for making those choices. Her image and appeal would be very different. The reason actresses don’t talk about their private lives is because in our society there is a lot of slut-shaming. Eventually, I have a responsibility and I have to protect myself.
It’s important that I am seen in a certain way, it’s just the way it is. Speculations about celebrities are commonplace but as long as it’s not coming from the horse’s mouth, you’re quite safe, so to speak.
What’s the worst that you imagine will happen if you were to confess to that you’re seeing Sidharth Malhotra and are probably in love with him?
Okay, suppose I say that but is it necessary that it stays that way? What if tomorrow I am not in love with him and feel differently about it? Then what? It’s not written in stone, is it? And I don’t want to be in a position where they come after me because I broke up with a dude. “Oh, aapka break-up ho gaya, ab agla kaun? Who’s next?” This shallow and stupid thinking is just the reality of our society which doesn’t allow women to be the way they’d like to be — free and independent.
Taaliyaa for Alia!
You can read the entire interview here.