Anyone criticising Alia for working during pregnancy is jealous, says Ranbir Kapoor

Bollywood sweethearts Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor have been making headlines for the last few months for various reasons. With the couple's magnum opus, Brahmastra, finally releasing in the cinemas and breaking Bollywood's dry spell by minting over INR2 billion at the Indian box office, Bhatt and Kapoor seem to be doing well on the professional and personal front.

The couple tied the knot earlier this year and is expecting their first child together. However, Bhatt has continued with her work during pregnancy and has been promoting the latest offering with her husband and her director Ayan Mukerji. The Gangubai Kathiawadi is yet to take a break from work, however, Kapoor in a recent interview commented that Bhatt's commitment to work should be nothing short of an inspiration.

"I think the way she has carried herself through the entire marketing of this film being pregnant, being in the condition that she is - I think you should only be inspired by that. Any kind of criticism is just jealousy and mischief makers and stupidity and we should not take that seriously,” the Sanju star told NDTV when the couple was asked about the sexist reporting around Bhatt’s pregnancy announcement.

Kapoor, while branding the Darlings star as ‘one of the most important actors in Indian cinema' added that she should be respected for her work, the way she carries herself and the value system she stands by.

"One thing is clear and I'm not saying this because she is my wife. Alia in the history of Indian cinema is probably one of the most important actors there's ever been. The work she's done on the screen or the kind of way she carries herself, the value system that she has and what she stands by, I haven't seen that strength in men or women and I think we should just respect that,” Ranbir said.

Earlier, the father-to-be had said that his wife will not suffer what her mother had to. “Having a child is a very natural process. It is a gift from God and I understand that the times have changed. Alia will continue to work as hard as she does now in the future as well. There won’t be any obstacle in front of her,” he said.