Alia Bhatt made her first appearance as a presenter at the 79th BAFTA Film Awards on February 22, 2026. The event unfolded at London’s Royal Festival Hall, where she was invited to announce the winner in the Film Not in the English Language category. The step highlights her growing international profile amid Indian cinema’s push for global ties.
Bhatt took the stage, and Alia opened with “Namaskar” and spoke in Hindi: “Agla award ek aise film ke liye hain, jo angrezi me nahi hai.” She followed in English, joking about subtitles before noting cinema’s universal appeal. She said, “Don’t reach for the subtitles just yet. I was only saying in Hindi that the next award is for a film not in the English language. Because while film speaks in countless voices, what we always celebrate is the language of cinema.” The award for Best Film Not in the English Language went to the Norwegian drama Sentimental Value. Her speech drew online praise for its cultural nod.
Alia Bhatt joined the stars, including Cillian Murphy, Kate Hudson, Bryan Cranston, Alicia Vikander, Michael B. Jordan, Gillian Anderson, Ethan Hawke, Regé‑Jean Page, Riz Ahmed, Stormzy, Sadie Sink, Little Simz, Aimee Lou Wood, Patrick Dempsey, and Glenn Close, for presenting the awards.
Before Alia Bhatt, Priyanka Chopra in 2021 and Deepika Padukone in 2024 presented the award.
Alia Bhatt at BAFTA Red Carpet
For the red carpet, Bhatt chose a custom silver sequined Gucci gown. She paired the backless design with subtle makeup and minimal jewelry. Bhatt shared her excitement about the look, aiming for glam without excess.
Bhatt’s career spans over 20 films since her 2012 debut in Student of the Year. She gained acclaim in Highway (2014) and Udta Punjab (2016). With time she became one of Hindi cinema’s most celebrated actresses and carved a niche for herself with her exceptional talent, versatility, and dedication. Some of her most iconic performances came in films like Kapoor & Sons, Dear Zindagi, Raazi, Gully Boy, Gangubai Kathiawadi, Darlings, and many more. Her BAFTA role follows Hollywood ventures like Heart of Stone (2023).
Social media buzzed with clips of her speech. Fans called it an “iconic” bridge between Bollywood and global awards. Industry peers like Karan Johar posted congratulations. The moment trended under #AliaAtBAFTA.
Alia Bhatt on IMDB
Leave feedback about this