Don't make assumptions about Udta Punjab based on trailer says Alia Bhatt
Alia defended her film after an open letter condemned the way director Abhishek Chaubey portrayed people of the state in the movie.
Ever since the first look of Alia Bhatt as a Bihari migrant from ‘Udta Punjab’ was released, there have been varied opinions about her character. However, the actress says people should wait for the film before forming assumptions on the basis of its trailer.
The film was in the news lately when actress Neetu Chandra, who hails from Bihar, penned an open letter to the film's director Abhishek Chaubey and Alia, condemning the way they portrayed people of the state in the movie.
"Anybody who makes assumptions on what we see on the trailer, it is better for us to keep quiet and not say anything because whatever people are assuming, especially the person in question over here, is assuming from the trailer, which could also possibly not true," Alia told reporters at the ‘Ikk Kudi’ song launch.
The 23-year-old ‘Kapoor & Sons’ star said people always make assumptions merely on the basis of a trailer, which is nothing but a glimpse of what the film is going to be.
"We always make assumptions before we really see the final project. The trailer is just a hint, film has the real content. So if people have a problem after seeing the film, then it is correct to justify. Before that, we have to just wait," Alia said.
‘Udta Punjab’ has been made after the team put in four years of research. The film is based around the drug-related problems prevalent in Punjab.
Alia Bhatt also says playing the role of a hockey player was physically quite challenging, as she had to push herself to look convincing on screen. The actress will be seen in a deglam avatar playing a migrant Bihari labourer, who is passionate about hockey.
"It was hectic and physically very demanding kind of a film. I had to push myself despite the injuries I had. I trained for hockey before starting the film. One would need to have a lot of years of practice to pull that off convincingly," Alia told reporters here at the launch of ‘Ikk Kudi’.
Alia said that as an actor she was just "pretending" to know how to play hockey, with the help of a coach and the students who got her to achieve the perfect body language. She said, "I was just pretending to know how to play hockey. I got a lot of help from the director, the coach and the students over there to get the body language correct."
"I did try and worked hard, as I wanted to be comfortable with the hockey stick, and bring out a certain ease which comes from the body language of hockey players. There is a little strength and force and I wanted to bring that in my character," Alia said.
The film stars Shahid Kapoor essaying the character of a high-on-drugs, long-haired rockstar Tommy Singh. Kareena Kapoor Khan plays a doctor who is determined to fight the illegal transportation of drugs, while Diljit Dosanjh, who also lent his voice to the song 'Ikk Kudi', will be seen portraying a police officer.
The film is scheduled to release on June 17.