Alia Bhatt recalls getting a panic attack before Student of the Year, reveals Mahesh Bhatt made her confront feelings in front of everyone

Alia Bhatt is one of the most celebrated actresses in Indian cinema, renowned for her versatility and powerful performances. She debuted with Karan Johar's Student of the Year in 2012, and has established herself as one of the leading actors in Bollywood with a string of successful films that showcase her talent and range.

Previously, Alia had opened up about a panic attack she experienced before her first day on the set of Student of the Year. This moment not only marked the beginning of her illustrious career but also highlighted her unique relationship with her father, filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt. Rather than coddling his daughter during her distress, Mahesh encouraged Alia to confront her fears head-on.
In a candid conversation with Karan Thapar for India Today, Alia had described the situation as the "strangest" experience. On that fateful day, she found herself "crying and shaking" as she reached out to her father for comfort. Expecting a warm embrace and reassurance, Alia was instead met with a room full of eight people at Mahesh's office. He instructed her to stand up and articulate her feelings in front of everyone. “I thought he would hug me... but he made me stand up in front of everybody in the middle of the room,” she recalled.
Initially taken aback by Mahesh's approach, Alia reacted with disbelief, thinking to herself, “that’s so mean. Why would you do that?” However, she later recognized the wisdom behind his actions. “He said just do it. I did it and actually that was the best thing that he could have asked for because automatically I felt normal,” she reflected. Notably, Emraan Hashmi was present during this moment, and he reassured Alia by saying, “You are going to feel this before every film, before every shot.”

Alia characterized Mahesh as an unconventional father who did not follow traditional parenting norms. Instead of shielding her from failure, he encouraged her to embrace it. “He would say you must fail; if you don’t fail, I will be very upset with you,” Alia shared. This perspective fundamentally altered her understanding of failure; it became a stepping stone rather than a setback.


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