From child star to Bollywood Queen: Meet the actress who started at 6, rose from ₹15 lakh debut to crores; she's now a mom

Surprises are quite prevalent in Bollywood, where some actresses have long, successful careers while others disappear after a short time. Among them is a remarkable actress who not only struggled but also became a powerful competitor to those ruling in Bollywood. At the age of six, she made her first on-screen appearance, marking the beginning of her career in the industry.It's none other than Alia Bhatt. The first time Alia appeared in a motion picture was in the year 1999. In the film Sangharsh, she plays a minor role as a child artist. In the movie "Student of the Year," she then made her acting debut. At that time, she was only 19 years old.According to India.com, Alia Bhatt only charged Rs. 15 lakhs for her first movie, "Student of the Year." However, she is currently among Bollywood's highest paid actors. According to a July 2025 report by Fincash, Alia Bhatt charges between 20 and 25 crores for each film. As per reports, she earned between 10 and 15 crores for her most recent movie, Jigra.For some of her roles, she went through rigorous training. Alia gave up her phone to play the part of a Bihari hockey player for Udta Punjab. For Raazi, she trained with weapons and learned Morse code. Alia Bhatt is an effective actress who has mastered the art of succeeding in her profession.If Alia Bhatt had the option to return to school, she would have chosen a different career path, she told Vogue India. "I think I would master organization," she said. "I'm so obsessed about organising. I love making plans."Known for her versatility and dedication to strong roles, Alia Bhatt remains one of Bollywood's most bankable stars in 2025. Her influence has grown well beyond the film industry, from giving incredible performances to representing India at international events like the Met Gala and becoming the first Indian global ambassador for Gucci. Alia, who is now a proud mother to Raha Kapoor, manages to strike a balance between her personal and professional lives with ease. She continues to be an unstoppable force in the industry and a genuine inspiration for aspiring actors, with a number of significant projects in progress.