Alia Bhatt Opens Up About Body Image Struggles: “No Matter How Much Weight I Lost, I Always Struggled”

The actress reflects on her journey with body image issues, how her perspective evolved during pregnancy, and the pressures of being in the spotlight.

Alia Bhatt, who made her Bollywood debut in 2012 with Student of the Year, has become one of the industry’s most versatile and admired actresses. Known for transforming herself to fit the demands of each role, Bhatt recently shared her personal struggles with body image after stepping into the world of cinema.

In a candid conversation with Allure Magazine, the Jigra actress opened up about her ongoing battle with body image, revealing that despite losing weight over the years, she still found it difficult to feel comfortable in her own skin. Bhatt admitted that even though friends often encouraged her to relax and stop dieting, the mental challenge remained. “I have struggled with body-image issues since then. No matter how much weight I lost, I always struggled. My friends would say, ‘Alia, you need to stop dieting. Just be calm, live a little, eat some food.’ And I used to think, ‘Once a fat kid, always a fat kid.’ That thought stayed with me, no matter how much weight I lost,” Bhatt shared.

Reflecting on her childhood, Bhatt described herself as a happy and carefree child, comfortable with her appearance. However, her mindset shifted dramatically once she entered the entertainment industry, where the pressure to look a certain way intensified her insecurities.

A turning point came during her pregnancy. Bhatt explained that the experience allowed her to develop a newfound respect for her body and its incredible capabilities. This realization helped her move past her previous concerns about her appearance, learning to embrace her body, even with extra weight or a bloated belly. “During pregnancy, I started looking at my body differently. I began respecting it more for what it can do rather than what it looks like,” Bhatt remarked.

This is not the first time Bhatt has spoken about her body image struggles. In a past We The Women Global Townhall panel discussion, she revealed how being constantly in the public eye took a toll on her mental health, making her overly critical of her diet, weight, and appearance. The pressure of always being in front of the camera amplified these feelings.

On the professional front, Bhatt is set to star in the much-anticipated Jigra. She is also working on two other major projects—Alpha and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love and War.