This is me, take it or leave it'

Alia Bhatt, the powerhouse actor who stole hearts with her debut in Student of the Year (2012), has become a Bollywood icon, known for her effortless acting and versatility. But behind the glamorous façade, the actor has been quietly battling something far more personal—body image issues.

In a recent interview with Allure, Alia candidly revealed the challenges she's faced over the years, sharing her deeply personal struggle with self-doubt, despite achieving notable weight loss. Growing up, Alia says she was blissfully unaware of societal beauty standards. "I was quite a chubby, healthy kind of kid, very happy with my life at the time. I didn't think there was anything wrong with the way I looked," she shared.

However, entering the Bollywood industry changed her self-perception. With its rigid standards that favour "tall, light-skinned, and slim physiques," the pressure to conform left Alia battling insecurity. "I have struggled with body-image issues since then. No matter how much weight I lost, I always struggled," she admitted.

Friends often tried to pull her out of this self-critical cycle. "My friends would say, 'Alia, you need to stop dieting. Just be calm, live a little, eat some food,'" she recalled. But Alia couldn't shake off her insecurities. "Once a fat kid, always a fat kid," she would tell herself, haunted by a feeling of never measuring up.

It wasn't until her pregnancy that Alia experienced a turning point. She began to see her body in a new light, marvelling at its strength and capability. "I had so much respect for my body and was so enamoured with what it could do," she reflected. The realisation reshaped her relationship with her body. "Even though I was in this business, I would never be hard on myself about the way I look or certain extra kilos over here or a certain bloated belly over there."

Now, Alia has made peace with her body image struggles, embracing her natural self. Confident and unapologetic, she declares, "This is me, take it or leave it."

On the professional front, Alia continues to thrive. She's set to star in Vasan Bala's Jigra, alongside Vedang Raina, and is currently filming Love & War, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, with co-stars Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal.