Gangubai Actress Alia Bhatt Trolled For Questioning Male-Centric Indian Films At Cannes

Actress Alia Bhatt drew attention at the 79th Cannes Film Festival, where she was not only noticed for her red-carpet appearances but also for her remarks during media interactions.

In a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter India, she spoke about how female-led films are gaining strong international success and contrasted this with the structure of the Indian film industry.

She referenced recent global hits driven by women-centric stories, such as Barbie, The Devil Wears Prada 2, and Wuthering Heights, to highlight the shifting audience demand. Alia pointed out that in India, filmmakers often prioritise what is seen as a predominantly male ‘mass audience,’ estimated at around 75%. She questioned this approach, suggesting that if content continues to be created mainly for male viewers, it raises the concern of who is making space for and addressing female audiences in mainstream cinema.

She added, “I’m not saying we alienate the men, but why do we have to alienate anybody? Why do we have to cater to one gender? Why can’t we make movies that are gender agnostic, where the storytelling takes centre stage? So whether it stars a man or a woman, that should not matter. It’s the storytelling that should matter.”

Her comments quickly went viral online, but they also triggered criticism from sections of social media users who called her stance “hypocritical.” Many pointed to her public support for her husband, Ranbir Kapoor, particularly in relation to his 2023 film Animal, which had faced widespread debate over its depiction of aggressive masculinity and violence against women.

Some users also revisited her earlier statements from the time her film Gangubai Kathiawadi became a major box office success, where she reportedly compared the scale of her impact to that of veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan.

One user commented, “She’s trying to set the stage for Alpha and then in case Alpha fails they will blame it on the audience for not supporting women centric films. lol lol what a preemptive strategy for a flop.”

Another user commented, “Where was this mindset when her husband made one of the worst and most misogynistic films that was catered towards and centered around men?”

One user reacted, “Performative af. Saying this while you very actively promoted Animal, a male-centric movie packed with misogyny.”

Another user reacted, “Crazy how Alia Bhatt behaved like biggest cheerleader of Ranbir Kapoor’s Animal while it being the worst misogynist movie.”

On the work front, Alia Bhatt will next be seen in Alpha, which will be a part of YRF’s spy-universe also starring Bobby Deol and Sharvari.