Alia Bhatt shared her top three inspirations in Indian cinema during a fun interview with Allure. She named her Dear Zindagi co-star Shah Rukh Khan, the legendary Rekha, and the gorgeous Aishwarya Rai. Talking about Aishwarya, Alia said that when she thinks of beautiful dance on screen, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan comes to her mind.
“When it comes to learning or being inspired by someone who has embodied dance in the most beautiful way on screen, I can’t help but think of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. She was absolutely, and still is, just mesmerizing. (She) also gave me a lot of direction and intellect.
Whenever I had a song, I’d go to YouTube, type ‘Aishwarya Rai songs,’ and it’d come, and I’d be looking at all her songs just to catch the expressions and just the way she moves from one move to another, the ease, the way she just lets herself be, but at the same time, it’s just so perfect and so precise. And she’s beautiful to look at,” said Alia. Alia also said she sees Rekha as a key beauty influence.
She said that Rekha has redefined beauty in Indian cinema and called her an iconic figure. “When it comes to Indian cinema, there’s one person who redefined/defined beauty, and that is Rekha. She’s just an icon for the ages.
Whether it was her red lips or her long hair or the way she did her eyes, the iconic flowers or gajras in her hair, that look in her eyes, which obviously you can’t create; it only comes from within. But she’s truly left the largest imp.