Alia Bhatt reveals how she helps sister Shaheen fight depression: ‘I just want her to be able to talk’

Alia Bhatt, who was last seen lighting up the screen in Karan Johar’s Rocky Aur Ranii Ki Prem Kahaani (2023), shares a deep bond with her sister Shaheen Bhatt, who has been open about her battle with the depression Shaheen, a writer and mental health advocate, has spoken widely about her struggles with depression, which began at a young age. In a candid chat on What Women Want, hosted by Kareena Kapoor Khan, Alia opened up about her evolving approach to supporting Shaheen through her mental health journey.

Reflecting on her sister’s experience, Alia revealed that her way of comforting Shaheen has changed over time. Initially, he would encourage Shaheen to participate in various activities, believing that he could help. But as time went on, Alia realized that treating depression is far from a “quick fix.” She emphasized that her role now is simply to be there for her sister without any pressure or expectations.

“She’s been living with this for a long time, moving and feeding life. I have a lot of admiration for the way she does it, but now my response to her is that I just want her to be able to talk to me. I don’t expect that she doesn’t say anything right away. All she needs to do is sit next to her and listen,” Alia shared, offering a glimpse of the deep personal bond the sisters share.

On the professional front, Alia is gearing up for her next big release Alpha, the first female-led film in Yash Raj Films’ Spy Universe, which will hit theaters on December 25, 2025. Directed by Shiv Rawail, the film also stars. Sharvari. Also, Alia is working on Love & War opposite her husband Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal. The power couple, who tied the knot in April 2022, are also parents to daughter Raha, almost two, adding a special dimension to Alia’s personal and professional life.

Meanwhile, Alia Bhatt can be seen opposite Vedang Raina in Vasan Bala’s Jigra.

The film follows the protagonist’s struggle to protect her brother. It earned Rs 4.25 crore on its opening day in all languages ​​across India, according to Sacnilk’s early estimates. Most of these earnings came from the Hindi version, which made Rs 4.2 crore, while the Telugu version brought in only Rs 5 lakh. The film had a total Hindi occupancy of 20.13% on Friday. Sacnilk data shows that night shows were the most popular, with 32.19% occupancy. Morning shows had 10.48% occupancy, afternoon shows reached 19.17% and evening shows 18.66%.

News18 gave the film 4.6 stars. An excerpt from the review read: “Even at 2 hours and 35 minutes, Jigra makes for a thrilling ride. It rarely slows down and keeps you engaged throughout the narrative. The final jailbreak sequence of the second half will push you to the edge of your seat and leave you biting your nails. You’ll find yourself wishing and hoping with your heart pounding that a bloody, bruised Satya will win against all the odds. And the background score of Achint Thakkar is the icing on the cake. Phoolon Ka Taron Ka’s new-age rendition that punctuates the narrative from time to time really tugs at the heartstrings.”