'Namaskar..': Alia Bhatt adds Indian flavour to her BAFTA presentation, draws cheers

Apart from her elegance, fluent English and confident presence, it was Alia’s Indian touch that stood out.

Dressed in a custom silver sequinned gown by Gucci paired with a soft white fur stole, the actor began her speech in Hindi, saying, “Namaskar. Agla award ek aisi film ke liye hai jo angrezi mein nahi hai.”

As the audience processed her opening line, she added with a smile, “Don't reach for the subtitles just yet. I was only saying in Hindi that the next award is for a film not in the English language. Because while film speaks in countless voices, what we always celebrate is the language of cinema. And that one we all speak fluently.”

Her brief use of Hindi drew widespread appreciation online. Telugu star Samantha Ruth Prabhu shared a clip of the moment on social media, reacting with a white heart emoji.

One user writes, "She made our india proud and our mother tongue proud that namaskar echoes in our heart."

"Speaking in our national language at a global stage so proud of her," one of Alia's fans writes.

Earlier speaking at the red carpet, Alia said she currently draws inspiration from her daughter Raha explaining how she has evolved professionally through changes in her private life.

"... It's a blessing that I love my job so deeply but I have to say that my true source of inspiration and magic right now is my daughter," says Alia, who is wedded to Bollywood star Ranbir Kapoor.

Meanwhile, filmmaker Lakshmipriya Devi’s Manipuri film Boong scripted history by winning the Best Children’s & Family Film award at the BAFTAs. It became the first Indian and first Manipuri film to win in this category, marking a significant milestone for regional Indian cinema on the global stage.

Produced by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar, the film triumphed over a strong international lineup that included Zootopia 2, Lilo & Stitch and Arco.

The win marks a major breakthrough for Indian regional storytelling at one of the world’s most prestigious film award platforms.