Alia Bhatt Says She ‘Never Felt’ She Could Have Acted in ‘Don’t Be Shy’
Actor-producer says introducing four new actors and a debutant director has made her more nervous than acting herself
MUMBAI — Alia Bhatt said she never felt she should have acted in Don’t Be Shy, saying her focus as producer has instead been on introducing four new actors and a debutant director with the upcoming film.
Speaking at the trailer launch, Bhatt was asked whether she had ever considered taking on a role in the film.
“No, I don’t think I ever felt that,” she said.
Bhatt, who made her acting debut 14 years ago with Student of the Year, said producing the film has brought her a different sense of fulfillment because she has been involved in developing its story and world from the beginning.
“14 years ago, I made my debut as an actor, and 14 years later, I am introducing four new actors and a debutant director, and I am way more nervous than they are right now,” she said.
“I really have butterflies in my stomach because, to answer your question, I love being an actor and I love being in front of the camera, but being a producer has another sort of fulfilment,” Bhatt added.
She said producing allowed her to be involved in the project from its earliest stages, including the development of its story and world.
“It gives me another sort of joy because we’ve been involved in building the world, the story, from the word go,” she said.
Bhatt recalled that the project began when filmmaker Sreeti Mukerji approached them with the idea for the film.
“From when Sreeti Mukerji came to us with an idea to make a movie like this, and we said, ‘Let’s do it together,’ and then we took it to our lovely partners,” she said.
Calling the project a story close to her heart, Bhatt said its themes would connect with audiences because of their universal experiences of growing up.
“It is a story very close to my heart, and everyone will resonate with it because we all love what comes with growing up,” she said.
Don’t Be Shy follows Shyamili “Shy” Das, a 20-year-old woman who believes she has figured out her life. Her carefully planned existence, however, begins to unravel as events take unexpected turns.
The film marks a new chapter for Bhatt as a producer, with the actor focusing on bringing a new group of performers and a first-time director to audiences. (Source: IANS)
