Alia Bhatt Shines at BAFTA 2026 with Iconic Hindi Speech

Alia Bhatt's Memorable BAFTA Debut

At the 79th British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA 2026) held in London, Bollywood superstar Alia Bhatt made a remarkable impression. On February 22, 2026, during this prestigious event at the Royal Festival Hall, Alia had the opportunity to present an award for the first time, making it a memorable occasion.

Alia took the stage to present the award for Best Film Not in the English Language. She began her speech in Hindi, stating: “Namaskar! The next award is for a film that is not in English. Please don’t rush to the subtitles just yet.”

She then elaborated in English, emphasizing that films communicate in various languages, but the true essence lies in the language of cinema—a language that resonates with everyone.

This moment quickly went viral on social media, with fans labeling it an “iconic moment” and a “global mic-drop for Indian cinema”. Celebrities like Samantha Ruth Prabhu also praised her. Alia's Hindi speech touched the international audience and was celebrated as a splendid showcase of Indian culture.

Alia's appearance was equally stunning—she wore a custom silver gown by Gucci, inspired by Marilyn Monroe. The high neckline and fitted silhouette, complemented by a white stole, gave her a glamorous look as she dazzled on the red carpet.

This marked Alia's debut at the BAFTAs, making her the third Indian actress to present an award, following Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone. The award in this category went to ‘Sentimental Value’, a Norwegian film, marking a historic win as it was the first BAFTA awarded to a Norwegian film.

In an interview with the BBC, Alia discussed her upcoming films ‘Love and War’ (directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali) and ‘Alpha’ (an action entertainer), expressing her excitement about the global response.