Alia Bhatt endorses 'Maskara' from 'Main Vaapas Aaunga' at Cannes 2025
Synopsis
Alia Bhatt turned a Cannes dressing-room moment into a full-blown endorsement — humming 'Maskara' while applying mascara and name-checking Sharvari, Vedang Raina, Imtiaz Ali, and AR Rahman in a single Instagram Story. It is a low-key but high-reach stamp of approval for one of 2026's most anticipated romantic films.
Key Takeaways
Alia Bhatt shared a dressing-room video from Cannes 2025 humming 'Maskara' from 'Main Vaapas Aaunga' .
Her caption gave a shoutout to Sharvari , Vedang Raina , director Imtiaz Ali , and composer AR Rahman . 'Maskara' features vocals by Vedang Raina and Nilanjana Ghosh , exploring the theme of young, budding love.
Vedang Raina described recording with AR Rahman as 'surreal' and said the song brought new emotional depth to his character Keenu .
The film stars Diljit Dosanjh , Naseeruddin Shah , Sharvari , and Vedang Raina , releasing on 12 June 2026 .
Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt, currently attending the Cannes Film Festival, has thrown her weight behind the song 'Maskara' from the upcoming film 'Main Vaapas Aaunga', sharing a playful dressing-room video that has quickly caught attention online.
The Viral Moment
In the clip posted to her Instagram Stories, Alia is seen applying mascara while humming the track — a nod as literal as it is charming. Her caption read: 'For my Alpha Sharvari, For my Jigra Vedang Raina and the ultimate rockstars Imtiaz Ali and AR Rahman.' The references to Sharvari's film 'Alpha' and Vedang Raina's 'Jigra' underline the camaraderie within Bollywood's newer generation of stars.
What 'Maskara' Is About
The track, which features vocals by Vedang Raina and Nilanjana Ghosh, captures the giddy, unspoken electricity of young love. For Sharvari's character Jiya, the emotion is all sparkle and mischief — she dances through the feeling, turning her butterflies into something bold and playful. For Vedang's character Keenu, it is softer, more honest, and quietly vulnerable as he reads what she is playfully concealing.
Vedang Raina on Recording with AR Rahman
Speaking about the song upon its release, Vedang Raina said: 'Maskara is incredibly close to my heart because it let me step into the character in a whole new way, not just as an actor, but through music.' He described a 'raw innocence' in Keenu's feelings, adding that singing the track made those emotions 'even more intimate and real.'
On working with composer A. R. Rahman, Vedang said the experience was 'surreal', noting that 'his process pushes you to explore depths you didn't know existed.' He called being part of director Imtiaz Ali's world — where, in his words, 'every emotion feels so lived-in' — 'truly unforgettable.'
About the Film
'Main Vaapas Aaunga' stars Diljit Dosanjh, Naseeruddin Shah, Sharvari, and Vedang Raina. The film is produced by Applause Entertainment and Mohit Choudhary and Shibasish Sarkar of Window Seat Films, and is directed by Imtiaz Ali. It is scheduled for a theatrical release on 12 June 2026.
With Alia's endorsement adding fresh buzz and AR Rahman's music already drawing early praise, the film arrives with considerable anticipation — especially given its ensemble cast and Imtiaz Ali's track record with romantic narratives.
Point of View
An organic, playful celebrity endorsement from Cannes carries outsized credibility. The real story here is how 'Main Vaapas Aaunga' is building anticipation through association: Alia's star power, AR Rahman's musical prestige, and Imtiaz Ali's romantic brand are all being invoked before the film has even released. Whether the film delivers on that goodwill is the question that matters come 12 June 2026.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Alia Bhatt do at Cannes 2025 related to 'Maskara'?
Alia Bhatt shared a video from her Cannes dressing room in which she was seen applying mascara while humming the song 'Maskara' from the upcoming film 'Main Vaapas Aaunga'. She captioned it with shoutouts to Sharvari, Vedang Raina, Imtiaz Ali, and AR Rahman.
What is the song 'Maskara' about?
'Maskara' is a romantic track from 'Main Vaapas Aaunga' that explores the feelings of young, budding love. It features vocals by Vedang Raina and Nilanjana Ghosh, and captures contrasting emotional textures — playful and bold for Sharvari's character Jiya, soft and vulnerable for Vedang's character Keenu.
Who is in the cast of 'Main Vaapas Aaunga'?
The film stars Diljit Dosanjh, Naseeruddin Shah, Sharvari, and Vedang Raina. It is directed by Imtiaz Ali and produced by Applause Entertainment and Window Seat Films.
When does 'Main Vaapas Aaunga' release?
'Main Vaapas Aaunga' is scheduled for a theatrical release on 12 June 2026.
What did Vedang Raina say about recording 'Maskara' with AR Rahman?
Vedang Raina called the experience 'surreal', saying AR Rahman's process 'pushes you to explore depths you didn't know existed.' He added that singing the song made his character Keenu's emotions 'even more intimate and real.'
