Alia Bhatt’s appearance at the 79th BAFTA Awards turned heads not just for her red carpet look and the honour of presenting an award, but also for the cultural impact of part of her speech. As the actress stepped up to present the Best Film Not in the English Language category at the prestigious ceremony, she began her address with a heartfelt “Namaskar” in Hindi before switching to English to explain the context. The moment quickly went viral online and sparked a wave of reactions, including from fellow celebrities.
One notable show of support came from actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu, who took to social media shortly after the ceremony to share a video of Alia’s speech and add a white heart emoji, tagging her in the post. Samantha’s shout-out reflected admiration not just for the gesture itself but for the confidence and pride it represented, as Alia brought a distinctly Indian flavour to an international platform. This isn’t the first time Samantha has publicly backed Alia; earlier, she had commented in praise of Alia’s performance choices in other projects, reinforcing a pattern of peer support between the actors.
Beyond Samantha’s reaction, the broader online community embraced the moment, with fans and commentators expressing pride in Alia’s decision to open in Hindi — a language seldom heard at such global awards shows. Many users highlighted how the greeting and transition resonated with fans around the world, underscoring the emotional universality of cinema.
Observers also noted the significance of the moment in terms of representation. While international award shows often default to English, Alia’s bilingual speech was seen as a reminder that cinema transcends language and cultural boundaries. Her choice to include Hindi was widely praised for celebrating roots while addressing a global audience.
The BAFTA night also featured a host of international stars and presenters, but it was the combination of Alia’s warm greeting, her elegant presence and the supportive reactions from colleagues like Samantha Ruth Prabhu that added a memorable cultural layer to the event.
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