Alia Bhatt on Mahesh Bhatt: 'He was like a grizzly bear, highly theatrical'
Synopsis
At a screening of Om Ka Hari — a film about fathers, sons, and the things left unsaid — Alia Bhatt reached into her own childhood to describe Mahesh Bhatt as a 'grizzly bear, highly theatrical and highly entertaining.' It is a rare personal portrait of one of Bollywood's most formidable filmmakers, seen through his daughter's eyes.
Key Takeaways
Alia Bhatt described father Mahesh Bhatt as 'highly theatrical and highly entertaining' at a screening of Om Ka Hari in Mumbai on 16 September .
She recalled a Class 1 memory in which Mahesh used an 'overbearing gesture' to help her memorise the spelling of a single word.
Om Ka Hari , directed by Harish Vyas , stars Anshuman Jha and Raghubir Yadav and is produced by First Ray Films .
The film also features Soni Razdan , Alia's mother, and releases theatrically on 18 September 2026 .
The story follows a father-son journey to Varanasi that becomes a reckoning with unspoken love and long-held hurt.
Bollywood actor Alia Bhatt has offered a rare, warm glimpse into her childhood with filmmaker father Mahesh Bhatt, describing him as intensely theatrical and larger-than-life. The comments came at a special screening of Om Ka Hari, the upcoming film starring her mother Soni Razdan, on 16 September in Mumbai.
The Memory That Stayed With Her
Alia recalled a specific moment from when she was in Class 1, anxious about an upcoming spelling test. Her fear was as simple as it was endearing — she was worried she might forget how to spell the word 'the'. What followed was a lesson delivered in unmistakably Mahesh Bhatt fashion.
She said: 'My father is very theatrical and that sometimes makes for great memories. For example, when I was in 1st standard, I had a spelling test and I was worried I was, for some reason, going to forget the spelling of the.'
'My father made it a point to build into my memory, so he did some overbearing gesture to teach me the spelling so I don't forget it. But I remember him being this, like, grizzly bear, highly theatrical and highly entertaining,' Alia added.
The Film That Prompted the Memory
Om Ka Hari, directed by Harish Vyas, stars Anshuman Jha and Raghubir Yadav in the title roles of Om and Hari — a stubborn father and his fiercely independent son. The story follows the two as generational differences, unexpressed expectations, and old wounds come to a head when Hari, believing he has only days left to live, decides to travel to Varanasi, with Om accompanying him.
What starts as a journey defined by friction gradually becomes an opportunity to confront the love and hurt that have long gone unsaid between them. Produced by First Ray Films, the film asks a deceptively simple question at its core: when did you last tell your father you love him?
Soni Razdan's Role and Family Ties
The screening carried an added personal dimension for Alia, given her mother Soni Razdan's involvement in the project. Razdan's presence in a film centred on family dynamics and the things left unsaid between loved ones made Alia's recollections of Mahesh Bhatt's larger-than-life parenting style all the more resonant on the evening.
Notably, Mahesh Bhatt himself has been a defining figure in Indian cinema's portrayal of fractured and complex family relationships, making Alia's anecdote about his theatrical approach to parenting a telling detail about the man behind that body of work.
Release and What to Expect
Om Ka Hari releases theatrically on 18 September 2026. The film blends comedy, drama, and the generational silences that often define father-son relationships in Indian families, positioning itself as a heartfelt, intimate watch ahead of a competitive theatrical season.
Point of View
But its timing is deliberate — personal candour at a film screening is a well-worn promotional tool, and it works here. What is more interesting is the subtext: the Bhatt family's willingness to publicly mine their emotional lives has always been part of the brand, from Mahesh's confessional filmography to Alia's own interview persona. That the anecdote surfaces at a screening of a film about what fathers and sons struggle to say to each other is not coincidental. Om Ka Hari needs a hook beyond its cast, and Alia's 'grizzly bear' line gives it one.
NationPress
16 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Alia Bhatt say about her father Mahesh Bhatt?
Alia Bhatt described Mahesh Bhatt as 'highly theatrical and highly entertaining,' recalling a childhood memory in which he used an exaggerated gesture to help her remember a spelling before a Class 1 test. She said she remembered him as being like a 'grizzly bear' in that moment.
What is Om Ka Hari about?
Om Ka Hari is a drama-comedy directed by Harish Vyas that explores the complex relationship between a stubborn father and his independent son. The story culminates in a journey to Varanasi where the two are forced to confront unexpressed love, hurt, and generational differences.
Who stars in Om Ka Hari?
The film stars Anshuman Jha and Raghubir Yadav in the title roles of Om and Hari. Soni Razdan, mother of Alia Bhatt, also features in the film, which is produced by First Ray Films.
When does Om Ka Hari release in cinemas?
Om Ka Hari releases theatrically on 18 September 2026.
Why did Alia Bhatt speak about Mahesh Bhatt at the Om Ka Hari screening?
Alia attended a special screening of Om Ka Hari, in which her mother Soni Razdan stars. The film's central theme of things left unsaid between fathers and children prompted her to share a personal anecdote about Mahesh Bhatt's larger-than-life parenting style.
