Alia Bhatt questions male-oriented Indian cinema; faces hypocrisy claims over Animal praise

Alia’s remarks at Cannes

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter India at Cannes Film Festival, Alia said global cinema has increasingly catered to women audiences, unlike the male-oriented trends often seen in the Indian film industry.

“When I look at the landscape today, I think we are in a fascinating phase. If we truly examine the global box office, some of the films that have performed phenomenally over the last few years — like Barbie, Wuthering Heights and The Devil Wears Prada 2 — have had women as their primary audience, and they have gone on to become massive successes,” she said.

Highlighting the trends back home, the 33-year-old actor added, “But in India, whenever we talk about box office numbers, there is a recurring argument that nearly 75 percent of moviegoers are men, so films need to cater to the ‘mass audience’. That conversation comes up very often. But if we are only catering to men, then what happens to women in the audience?”

“I am not saying we should alienate men. My question is: why should we alienate anyone at all? Why should storytelling cater to one gender? I believe films should be gender-agnostic, where storytelling takes centre stage. Whether a film stars a man or a woman should not matter — what should matter is the story being told.”

Netizens call out ‘hypocrisy’

A section of social media users criticised Alia’s remarks, pointing to her earlier appreciation of Animal, which had faced widespread criticism for allegedly glorifying toxic masculinity.

Some users also recalled how Alia had earlier said she was called “Lady Amitabh Bachchan” after the success of Gangubai Kathiawadi, which won her the National Film Award.

Alia’s Cannes fashion moment

Alia returned to the spotlight at Cannes 2026 with two high-profile appearances as global ambassador for L'Oréal Paris.

She walked the red carpet in a blush-toned couture gown by designer Tamara Ralph. The strapless outfit featured a curved bustier neckline, a corset-style bodice and a dupatta-inspired drape around her arms, blending classic glamour with Indian elements.

Earlier in the day, Alia also turned heads in a fairytale-inspired custom gown by designer Yash Patil during a daytime appearance at the French Riviera. The vintage-style ensemble featured hand-painted artwork by Basuri Chokshi celebrating the Riviera landscape.