Alia Bhatt Embarks on a Full Circle: From Student of the Year to International Villain in Gal Gadot’s Heart of Stone

In her career, Alia Bhatt has completed a full circle. She made her acting debut in Student of the Year (2012), a campus comedy by Karan Johar. And now, with the director’s romantic comedy Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, she has produced a success. In addition, she will be making her international debut in Gal Gadot’s Heart of Stone, directed by Tom Harper.

The spy thriller’s trailer gives the impression that Alia will be portraying the bad guy. Her character Keya Dhawan is on the prowl for the Heart, a sort of technical “brahmastra” that could grant her worldly dominion. She is shown in one scene mockingly toasting Gal’s character, and in another, she is pointing a revolver at the camera.

Further Alia told Hindustan Times in an exclusive interview, “A lot of that (how to play the villain) comes with the writing ya. You just have to commit to the direction, whatever the direction is. But I think there’s a lot of purpose and dedication in being the bad guy because to me, I’m not the bad guy. To me, I’m the right guy. Keya’s passion, her requirement, need or want for the Heart has reason, it has purpose. And she believes in that. For her, she’s not the bad guy. So you need to fully commit to that moment as an actor. I think it’s about displaying both her sides with clarity and focus.”