'Once a fat kid...': Alia Bhatt talks body image challenges
Bollywood actor Alia Bhatt, known for her versatile acting skills and charming screen presence, recently opened up about her struggle with body image issues. In an interview with Allure, she revealed that despite losing weight, she continued to grapple with self-doubt and dissatisfaction. Bhatt shared that as a child, she was "quite a chubby, healthy kind of kid," and was content with her appearance. However, her entry into the film industry brought about a shift in her self-perception.
'I have always struggled...'
Bhatt felt the pressure to lose weight in order to fit into the industry's narrow beauty standards. She candidly admitted, "I have struggled with body-image issues since then. No matter how much weight I lost, I always struggled." She said, "My friends would say, 'Alia, you need to stop dieting. Just be calm, live a little, eat some food.' And I used to be like, 'Once a fat kid, always a fat kid.'"
Pregnancy marked a turning point for the actor
Bhatt's journey toward self-acceptance took a significant turn when she became pregnant. This experience helped her develop a deep appreciation and respect for her body. She said, "I had much respect for my body and was so enamored with what it could do. It made me realize that even though I was in this business, I would never be hard on myself about the way I look or certain extra kilos over here or a certain bloated belly over there."
Bhatt embraced her unique look with confidence
Today, Bhatt has come to terms with her body image issues and embraces her unique look with confidence. She said, "This is me, take it or leave it." On the professional front, she will next be seen in Vasan Bala's Jigra, alongside Vedang Raina. The film will hit theaters on October 11. She is also currently filming for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Love & War with husband Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal.
