Vikram Bhatt Defends Alia Bhatt Amid Online Criticism

Vikram Bhatt has come to the defense of Alia Bhatt following the backlash she received after the trailer release of her film Alpha. The director criticized the harsh trolling and expressed his sympathy for Alia, questioning the reasons behind the negativity. He also shared his own experiences with paid trolls during the release of his film Haunted 3D, revealing the damaging effects of such actions on the film industry. Bhatt emphasized the need for accountability and called for action against these practices. Alpha, directed by Shiv Rawail, is set to release on July 3 and features a star-studded cast.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 18, 2026, 15:50 IST

Vikram Bhatt's Support for Alia Bhatt

Vikram Bhatt has previously discussed the challenges he encountered during the release of his film Haunted 3D: Echoes of the Past. Renowned for his contributions to the horror genre, the director has been vocal about the obstacles faced by himself and his peers in the film industry. Recently, following the trailer launch of Alia Bhatt and Sharvari's film Alpha, the actress faced significant trolling online. In response, Vikram Bhatt has publicly supported Alia, criticizing the harshness of the backlash she received.

Vikram Bhatt Stands by Alia Bhatt After Backlash

This isn't the first instance where Alia has been subjected to online trolling. Her recent appearance at the Cannes Film Festival, where she claimed to have gone unnoticed, attracted considerable criticism. The release of Alpha's trailer sparked similar negative reactions from netizens.

In a recent interview with a media outlet, Vikram Bhatt, who shares a close relationship with the Bhatt family, expressed his disapproval of the trolling, questioning, “What’s she getting trolled for?” He expressed sympathy for Alia and criticized the ongoing negativity directed at her, asserting that both the film and the actress do not warrant such skepticism. “If you don’t want to see it, don’t see it. Don’t watch the film!” he stated, emphasizing that he found no fault with the trailer.

Vikram Bhatt Comments on Paid Trolls

During the discussion, Vikram Bhatt also recounted his own experiences with paid trolling related to his film Haunted 3D: Echoes of the Past. After receiving a slew of negative comments on the film’s trailer on YouTube, he discovered that these were orchestrated by paid bots. “We found out that it was a paid campaign,” he revealed, noting that it costs around Rs 1 lakh to generate a thousand such comments. He expressed concern over the anonymity of those behind the campaign, stating, “Obviously, someone doesn’t wish you well.”

Without disclosing too many specifics, he mentioned that one actress had previously employed similar tactics against another. Vikram voiced his concern that films relying on word-of-mouth could suffer greatly from such actions, calling for serious measures to combat these practices.

About Alpha

Alpha, directed by Shiv Rawail, is part of the YRF Spy Universe. This high-octane action-thriller features an impressive cast, including Alia Bhatt, Sharvari, Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol, and Hrithik Roshan. The film tells the story of a girl trained to kill from birth, and fans are eagerly anticipating its theatrical release on July 3.