Exclusive: Of course I will hang out more with Sid, says Alia Bhatt

She maybe just 23 years old, but Alia Bhatt has shown us time and again that she has a mature head on her shoulders. Be it her no-nonsense demeanor, choice of roles, or the smoothness with which she fields tricky questions and even the very sporting manner she displays while handling jibes, Bollywood’s youngest superstar has set a fine example.

We catch up with her over lunch as she, rather unselfconsciously, attacks her plate. B-town’s youngest superstar talks about the men in her life, why she will ‘definitely hang out more’ with Sidharth Malhotra, how KJo is like a father figure to her, the first time she met SRK and more..

Yash Johar (Karan’s father) and your father (Mahesh Bhatt) have worked together in the past and now you and Karan are continuing the trend. How does that feel?
Karan is like my father. He trusted all of us at such a young age and wanted to make us part of his venture. I can’t be more grateful to him. And it’s really exciting since I knew Yash (Johar) uncle very well. He used to give me chocolates whenever we would meet. Strangely, I never met Karan while growing up.

SRK had said once that that the one call he never misses is the one from your father. Do you have any childhood memories of him?
I remember meeting him once when I had gone to his house with my father. Some of my relatives from Karachi were in town, so my father messaged him saying ‘they want to meet you’. And he was very kind and polite as usual. He invited us over and was a lovely host. I was around 11 at that time but I remember being extremely awestruck by him. We ate some sandwiches and he also had this cola machine which really excited me as a child.

Did you add to the huge number of women who have a crush on Fawad Khan?
No, not at all (laughs). I don’t look at Fawad in that way. Of course he is very attractive and an amazing actor. But for me he is more like a buddy. I am genuinely fond of him but somehow I never had that kind of feeling for him. During the promotions, I feel I got to know him better. He is a superb actor and my performance has only gotten better because of him.

Alia Bhatt, Sidharth Malhotra and Fawad Khan get candid during a photoshoot.

What do you have to say about the paparazzi invading your privacy, especially when you and Sidharth Malhotra are seen together?
To a certain extent, they are doing their job. I am not going to stop my life because people are thinking a certain way. There’s no doubt about the fondness that I have for Sid. He is a very close friend of mine, so of course I will hang out with him. As long as they (paparazzi) are not entering my bathroom, I’m okay.

Sidharth recently took a stand for you and slammed KRK for his comment. How did that make you feel?
That was very sweet of Sid since it’s unlike him to say anything, that too on Twitter! But I think it was about time someone said something. I don’t give these little things any importance but I think there’s no harm in responding once in a while and Sid did that perfectly. He didn’t say too much and he didn’t say too little.

How do you feel about moving in with your sister in your new apartment?
Oh, the thought is very scary! I don’t know what it’s going to feel like, you know, living on my own because I’ve never done it before. It’s going to be a new journey, so I’m a little scared. But I’m also extremely excited. My sister and I, both of us are putting a lot of effort into the house and of course, a lot of money. It’s going to be a sweet and simple decor. It has a very cozy and warm atmosphere, exactly what I wanted and not too modern. In fact, it has a slightly shabby and personal feel to it. My ideal plan was to move in on my birthday, but since we haven’t met the deadline, it’s going to take a while now.

So that would mean?
Don’t ask! (Laughs) I guess it’s safe to say in around two months.

Karan Johar recently announced Student Of The Year 2. Can we expect to see you in the film?
I don’t know if the star cast has been finalised. The first film was made with three new comers and I think that should remain. It should be made with a fresh cast but I’ll ask Karan if I can make a special appearance.

Is Kapoor & Sons just another Dil Dhadakne Do served on a different plate?
Well, I wouldn’t compare the two, as DDD was a much bigger film with a completely different aura. The conflict was only primarily between parents and the kids. In our film the conflict is all over the place. It is between the parents, between kids and the parents, between the kids themselves. Even my character has issues of her own. Everybody is dealing with some relationship issue or the other. So you’ll see everyone juggling many things in the film.

We know it is not a love-triangle exactly, but you do seem to share great chemistry with Fawad…
Yes, definitely. It’s impossible to not have chemistry with both of them — they are so gorgeous!

If Kapoor & Sons is not a done and dusted story of a family ‘that eats and stays together’, then what is it?
It really speaks about ghar-ghar ki kahaani. I can see myself fighting with my mother for the same reasons. Maybe we don’t throw things at each other, maybe we don’t take things to that extreme a level in real life, but it does bring out the same emotion in us. It does talk about today’s families and that’s why I think people will relate to it.

This is your second film with Rishi Kapoor. How was the experience?
I think Rishi sir is the coolest daddu one has seen in a really long time. It was amazing working with him again after SOTY even though I don’t share much screen time with him in this film. I think he is great energy to be around, so passionate about his work. Shakun and Rishi sir would fight (in a fun way) on the sets every day but next day, he would still come and sit for five hours to get his make-up done. It was inspiring to see him give his all to stay in character. He treats us like his children, especially me since I am the youngest. He always used to nag me to eat, saying I’d disappear otherwise. It got him worried when I turned vegetarian.

When do you start shooting for Ayan Mukherjee’s Dragon with Ranbir Kapoor? Is that what they are calling it?
I don’t know what others are calling it but I am calling it Ayan Mukherjee’s film, which I start shooting towards the end of 2016.