‘I have grown a thick skin’

Mumbai: After two hits and a great performance in Highway, Alia Bhatt is definitely the next big thing in Bollywood. And the 21-year-old is already an old hand in the industry.

“I was 18 during Student Of The Year and I am 21 now. I have learnt a lot and grown as an actor. I have attempted a different role in every movie and I will continue to do that, otherwise it will get monotonous.”

About her much appreciated raw look in Highway, where she hardly used any make-up, she says, “If you can pull that off then nothing like it. Make-up is essential for every public figure but what goes wrong is that you tend to hide your features with excess make-up and I don’t believe in that. I have always believed that less is more. Highway demanded a raw look and I had no objection doing it.”

Alia also admits that if not for Bollywood producer Karan Johar, she wouldn’t be where she is today, in the film industry. She admits that she takes him as a mentor and looks to him whenever she needs special guidance.

“Karan Johar is a person who has created my career. Along with my mum and dad, I also look to Karan Johar for advice. He is the biggest reason why I am here today and I will make sure that I always make him proud,” says Alia.

Talking about those viral jokes on her, Alia admits that few of those were really funny. And she also explained why actors today needed to be thick-skinned.

“My mother told me that before I got into the movies. She said, ‘you will face rejection, cruel jokes, criticism and scrutinity but you must to learn to take it,” she says. The actress, in the city only for the second time in her life, remembers that school trip which brought her to Hyderabad first.

“I had  visited Hyderabad last on a school trip, when I was in Class VI. I still remember going to Golconda fort, where we saw that light and sound show sitting on the grass. And yes, I really love haleem.”

Alia will also be very busy for the next few days.

“Kick (the Salman Khan starrer) is out two weeks after our film and it will kick us out of theatres. So promoting our movie is something that I can’t turn down now,” she adds, while talking about her non-stop promotions for her film. And given a chance, Alia adds that she would love to work with NTR Jr.

“A very close friend of mine lives in Hyderabad. She keeps telling me that NTR Jr and I should go on a date.”