Alia Bhatt’s recent appearance on India’s Got Latent Season 2 has sparked discussion about her strategy to address persistent online trolling. Employing self-deprecating humor, she seems to be actively working to shift public perception and counter criticisms surrounding nepotism and privilege.
Key Points
Alia Bhatt's recent appearance on India's Got Latent Season 2 featured self-deprecating humor.
This strategy, borrowed from comedians, aims to connect with audiences and disarm critics effectively.
She faces persistent trolling over nepotism, often fueled by Karan Johar's public endorsements.
Online toxicity is now impacting her professional projects, affecting reception of films like Alpha.
The Power of Self-Deprecating Humor
Before the concept of “crowd work” became wildly popular in India, making average speakers call themselves comedians, self-deprecating humour had long been a go-to tool for comics to break the ice with audiences. It helps them level with the crowd while standing on a podium, encouraging people to let their guards down. How else will a room full of adults accept a dangerously witty person who can see through them?
It has been a while since actors began borrowing this handbook from comedians to win over audiences and come across as relatable. Alia Bhatt’s recent appearance on Samay Raina’s India’s Got Latent Season 2 evoked a similar sentiment.
Karan Johar’s constant promotion of Alia and his repeated endorsements of her talent have also backfired in some ways, reinforcing the perception that she has enjoyed immense backing and privilege since the beginning of her career.
Alia Bhatt’s Battle Against Nepotism Trolls
However, Alia managed to keep these trolls’ credibility at bay through her performances. Films such as Highway, Udta Punjab, Raazi, Gangubai Kathiawadi, and Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani showcased her acting range and gave audiences enough reason to look beyond the noise.
Since it was another Karan Johar-Alia Bhatt collaboration, trolls found the perfect opportunity to revive debates about nepotism and privilege. The discourse soon expanded beyond the film itself. What followed was Alia being trolled for everything from her interviews to her red-carpet appearances, particularly during the recent Cannes Film Festival.
What seems to be happening now is that online toxicity is spilling into her professional life, directly affecting the reception of her projects and how audiences perceive Alia and her films. The mixed reactions to the Alpha trailer appeared to reflect that trend. This is once again a film dominated by Alia’s presence, although it also stars Sharvari and Bobby Deol in pivotal roles. Being part of Yash Raj Films’ Spy Universe, the stakes are also significantly higher here.
Impact on Her Career and Upcoming Films
She collaborated with AIB for the parody video, ‘Alia Bhatt – Genius of the Year’. In the sketch, Alia laughed at herself and openly mocked her public image and her IQ. Even her father, Mahesh Bhatt, and sister, Shaheen Bhatt, joined in on the joke. The video also spoofed Taare Zameen Par, with Alia comparing herself to Darsheel Safary’s character.
The idea was simple — roast yourself before anyone else can. It succeeded. Audiences weren’t laughing at Alia; they were laughing with her. In doing so, she found a way to win people back, and the video quickly became a pop-culture moment.
And it worked. While some continued to target her online, a section of viewers praised her humility, relatability, and willingness to laugh along. It felt reminiscent of the strategy that worked for her a decade ago. Whether this will ultimately translate into goodwill for Alpha remains to be seen. But it shows how Alia understands she cannot fight every troll, so instead she chooses to become part of the joke and, in doing so, takes control of the narrative.
Alia Bhatt’s deliberate use of humor marks a significant shift in her public relations. This proactive approach suggests a conscious effort to reclaim her narrative, proving that authenticity and wit might be her most potent weapons against online negativity.
