'Karan is my mentor'

Looking Forward

Newcomer Alia Bhatt, Mahesh Bhatt’s daughter, says she prefers to consult Karan Johar regarding her career, rather than her family, since Johar was the one to launch Alia with Student of the Year last year. “Karan is my mentor. He has given birth to me when it comes to getting into this industry. So I consult him for every decision that I make. He obviously wants me to take my own decisions, make mistakes and learn from them. He is a very important part of my life and career,” says the young actress.

Alia, who is actor-turned-director’s Pooja Bhatt’s sister and Emraan Hashmi’s cousin says she doesn’t take any acting tips from them. “I don’t take advice on acting but I do ask them about a film or what I should do or how I should behave. But I don’t
take acting tips from them,” she said.

And even though her father has a production company, Alia decided not to start her acting career with the Bhatt camp. Not only her debut film but even her upcoming projects Highway and 2 States are not from Vishesh Films.

“For my first film I had decided not to start off with our family banner. I was more than excited to do Student of the Year. But now if something comes up, then I will definitely look into it,” she says. In the interim, Alia will be seen in Imtiaz Ali’s Highway opposite Randeep Hooda. The film about two people and their road trip.

“I am more than happy to work with Imtiaz in Highway as he has been on my wish list of directors and I have already finished one long schedule. It has been emotionally and physically draining but all in a positive sense. It is amazing to work on the film and I feel like I want to work on and on and on it. Frankly,  I don’t want to stop shooting for it,” she laughs.

Karan Johar-Sajid Nadiadwala’s joint production venture 2 States and is based on a Chetan Bhagat novel 2 States-The Story Of My Marriage. The film is set for release on April 18 next and will see Alia romancing Arjun Kapoor.

“2 States is a Dharma Production again. So, I feel like I am at home. My director Abhishek Varman is a very good friend, so working with him is not only exciting but also fun and I can connect with him very easily. Working with Arjun is again a lot of fun.”