Not Alia Bhatt’s fault that she is the daughter of industry insiders, says mom Soni Razdan

5 min readMumbaiJun 25, 2026 09:47 AM IST

Soni Razdan on Alia Bhatt getting trolled at Cannes 2026 (Photos: Soni Razdan, Alia Bhatt / Instagram)

Alia Bhatt is currently one of the most successful actors in the Hindi film industry and she is currently looking forward to her next release, Alpha. While Alia has received a lot of love from her fans over the last decade, in the recent past, she has also been receiving some negativity on social media. Recently, Alia’s mother, Soni Razdan, reacted to the hate her daughter receives on social media and also commented on the trolling that happened during her Cannes 2026 appearance.

‘Alia Bhatt can’t help whose child she is’

In a conversation with Zoom, Soni Razdan said that it is not Alia’s fault that she is the daughter of industry insiders. She also pointed that she herself was an outsider, she never got the kind of success that Alia got, and applauded her talent and hard work.

She said, “Alia can’t help whose child she is; it’s not her fault. I was not a product of the industry; I struggled as an actor and human being to come into this industry, and I am not even half or quarter as successful as many other women of my time. Also, the world does not owe you a living if you want to make it in the industry, and you are going to complain… When I came in, 101 people were children of people who were already in the industry. I didn’t even think about it. If I think about that, how will I do what I wanted to? So I was focused on what I was doing. Why don’t people do that? It’s very easy for people to blame; there is nothing fair about this world.”

Also Read: Soni Razdan reacts to daughter Alia Bhatt’s Cannes appearance criticism: ‘Social media has lot of hate’

Soni admitted that even though Alia was invited to audition for her first film, whatever she has done since then has been to her credit. She further added, “It is not Alia’s fault that she is Mahesh Bhatt and Soni Razdan’s daughter. Somebody called up and said they would like to audition her, but after that… Once that first step is over, it’s her hard work. If that audition had gone wrong and somebody had decided that she was hopeless, she wouldn’t have gotten the role. So there has been one thing after another which helped her to climb the ladder of success.”

Soni Razdan praises Alia Bhatt’s film choices

As Alia Bhatt plays an action-packed role in Alpha, her mother lauds her evolution as an artist and says, “Her evolution as an actor is remarkable. Right from the get-go, she was very unusual in her choices. After Student Of The Year, most actors would not have looked at a film like Highway, which she did immediately; that really defined her and set her apart from her peers, stating that here is a person who wants to be taken seriously in this business. She is not here to just wear pretty dresses, high heels, and dance and sing. She is here to work and perform, and owns her craft.”

“Alia often tells me that Highway was her acting school, and I can see why. It is wonderful that Imtiaz Ali saw that talent in her and thought that she might be able to do that role. In a certain sense, she has been lucky, no doubt, but she also got something to back that luck. It is what it is, and is never going to be easy ever,” Soni Razdan added.

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Alia Bhatt’s Cannes controversy

In May, when Alia Bhatt appeared at the Cannes Film Festival, a few videos circulating online suggested that she was ignored by the international paparazzi. Soon after, the actress was trolled on social media, while someone said she had an “aura deficit” and another one had written, “What a pity, no one noticed you.” Reacting to the trolling in a classy and calm way, Alia Bhatt also wrote back, saying, “Why pity, love? You noticed me :).”

Reacting to this hatred, Soni said, “Just because there is some noise on a social media platform, that doesn’t reflect the actual reality on the ground. It’s a reality we face every day. Everyone who went to Cannes was there for a reason, and they were representing their country. Everybody was invited because they achieved something in the global arena, they weren’t there by accident. If they are there, it means they are already being recognised. We should not waste our energy on giving importance to negativity, which doesn’t deserve our attention. As people in the business, you come and do your work, and go.”

On the work front, Alia Bhatt’s next Alpha releases on July 3. After this, she also has Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love And War in the pipeline, also starring Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal.

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Nawaz Javed Kochra is a seasoned entertainment journalist at The Indian Express Online, bringing nearly a decade of expertise to the forefront of cultural reporting. With a focus on the television and Over-The-Top (OTT) landscapes, he has established himself as a prominent voice in the industry, known for his high-profile celebrity interviews and insightful coverage of the Indian entertainment sector.

Experience & Career

Nawaz holds a Master of Arts in Communication and Journalism from Mumbai University, providing him with a rigorous academic and ethical foundation. In his 11-year career, he has navigated through several of India's leading media houses, building a portfolio that spans digital, print, and broadcast media:

The Indian Express: Currently leads coverage of TV and OTT content, producing both written analysis and popular video interview segments.

Former Roles: He began his career at the iconic Stardust Magazine and later held key positions at Zoom TV, Zee Multimedia, MissMalini, Bollywood Bubble, and Raindrop Media.

Expertise & Focus Areas

Nawaz’s beat is characterized by a blend of exclusive access and trend analysis. His core areas of expertise include:

Reality Television: Specialized coverage of major franchises like Bigg Boss, providing behind-the-scenes insights and winner profiles.

OTT Ecosystem: Tracking the shift from traditional cable to digital streaming platforms, with a focus on web series and digital premieres.

Celebrity Profiles & Interviews: Nawaz is celebrated for his ability to foster candid conversations with industry stalwarts, from music composers like Amaal Mallik to other TV legends.

Investigative Entertainment News: Reporting on sensitive industry developments, including legal disputes and personal stories of resilience within the acting community.

Authoritativeness & Trust

With a reputation built on years of networking and credible reporting, Nawaz Kochra is a "known face" in the Mumbai media circuit. His work at The Indian Express adheres to the publication's "Journalism of Courage" standard, ensuring that even entertainment reporting is approached with accuracy, sensitivity, and transparency. His educational background and extensive tenure across diverse media platforms provide him with the authoritative perspective required to analyze the rapid evolution of Indian show business. ... Read More

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