Highlights
- Alia Bhatt spoke about gender representation in Bollywood at Cannes 2026.
- She questioned why mainstream films still mainly cater to male audiences.
- Bhatt said storytelling should become “gender agnostic.”
- Her comments quickly turned into an online debate.
- Several women-centric Bollywood films have reshaped mainstream storytelling.
At the Cannes Film Festival 2026, Alia Bhatt spoke about Bollywood’s continued focus on male audiences and male-led stories. During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Bhatt said discussions around commercial success in India are often based on the belief that most moviegoers are men. Because of this, filmmakers continue creating films mainly designed for male audiences.
Bhatt questioned why storytelling could not be more inclusive and said films should focus on strong narratives rather than gender. According to her, cinema should become “gender agnostic,” where the quality of storytelling matters more than whether a film is led by a male or female actor. Her comments quickly sparked debate online, with social media users discussing women’s representation in mainstream Bollywood cinema compared to Hollywood.
Apart from her comments on cinema, Alia Bhatt also gained attention for her Cannes 2026 appearance. The actor attended the festival’s opening night in a peach-toned gown with a sculpted neckline and a flowing sheer cape. Her fashion choice became one of the talked-about moments from the opening days of the festival on the French Riviera.
English Vinglish (2012)
- YouTube youtu.be
Starring Sridevi, the film follows a homemaker who is mocked for not knowing English. She slowly rebuilds her confidence by learning the language on her own and discovering her self-worth. A woman who has never travelled without her husband anywhere, studied in the vernacular medium, travels to the US, a completely stranger world, steps into it, and makes it her own. She joins English-speaking classes and conquers her fear of not speaking the language.
Queen (2014)
- YouTube youtu.be
Led by Kangana Ranaut, the story follows a young woman whose wedding gets called off. She decides to travel alone and eventually finds independence, confidence, and a new identity. “Going alone on honeymoon” stuns everybody, but that is how Kangana’s character is built, she decides to travel alone to Paris, and finds a new her, where she makes friends and the concept of ‘solo traveling.’
Mary Kom (2014)
- YouTube youtu.be
Featuring Priyanka Chopra Jonas, the biographical sports drama is based on boxer Mary Kom’s life and shows her struggle to balance motherhood, marriage, and a demanding boxing career. Based on a real story, Priyanka has delivered a terrific performance. She underwent strict training in order to achieve the strength and physique of an Olympic gold-medalist.
NH10 (2015)
- YouTube youtu.be
Starring Anushka Sharma, the thriller follows a road trip that turns dangerous after a couple witnesses a violent crime, forcing the female lead into a fight for survival. A very simple yet powerful performance by Anushka, she takes revenge for her husband’s murder, the movie is just about a single night, how she avenges the male-dominated society of Haryana, shows that she is silent but deadly.
Pink (2016)
- YouTube youtu.be
Featuring Taapsee Pannu and Amitabh Bachchan, the film revolves around three women fighting harassment and social judgment while raising conversations around consent and respect. What ‘no means no’ stands for, partying with random boys, wearing short clothes, doesn’t give the boys a chance to pounce upon these girls. The story revolves around how three girls struggle to keep up with society, being judged to stay away from parents, single, and having male friends as well.
Neerja (2016)
- YouTube youtu.be
Starring Sonam Kapoor, the film tells the story of flight attendant Neerja Bhanot, who showed courage and bravery during a plane hijacking. A simple girl just following her duty of air hostess, beloved of her mother, at the age of 23, she saved around more than 250 passengers while she lost her life.
Raazi (2018)
- YouTube youtu.be
Featuring Alia Bhatt, the espionage drama follows a young Indian woman who marries into a Pakistani military family as part of a secret mission. Following the steps of her father, a simple girl, shy, is married for a mission. She explores herself as a spy and delivers the most important documents during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. Based on the book ‘Calling Sehmat’, author Harinder Sikka tells a real-life story of a spy.
Saand Ki Aankh (2019)
- YouTube youtu.be
Starring Taapsee Pannu and Bhumi Pednekar, the film is based on the lives of sharpshooters Chandro and Prakashi Tomar, who broke patriarchy and social barriers to pursue shooting. A gun called ‘mardon ka gehena’ (an ornament of men), these two senior women in the setup of Haryana, decide to take the competition head-on with patriarchy, only to show that not gender but capability is enough to operate a gun.
Thappad (2020)
- YouTube youtu.be
Led by Taapsee Pannu, the film focuses on a woman questioning her marriage and dignity after her husband slaps her once in public. A very simple yet powerful statement, mundane issues of ‘just a slap’ but a husband cannot dominate wife and justify the slap. Considered as a very normal issue but a woman raised her voice is something worth watching.
Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022)
- YouTube youtu.be
Featuring Alia Bhatt, the film follows a woman sold into prostitution who later rises to power and claims agency in a harsh and difficult world. Based on the real story of Gangubai Kathiawadi, from the book ‘Mafia Queens of Mumbai’, a simple girl from Gujarat is traded by her lover for a few bucks into prostitution, later on to become the voice of prostitutes of Mumbai’s red-light area Kamatipura.
Which one is your favorite, and which one would you prefer to watch with your girl-gang or your partner, or your parents?
