When Alia Bhatt opened her BAFTA speech with a confident “Namaskar,” it wasn’t just the audience at London’s Royal Festival Hall that noticed. Back home, the moment sparked pride across social media — and one of the loudest cheers came from Samantha Ruth Prabhu.
Alia made her debut as a presenter at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, but it was her Hindi opening line that turned the spotlight into something more personal — and powerful.
A Desi Touch on a Global Stage
Taking the stage to present the award for Best Film Not in the English Language, Alia surprised the room by beginning in Hindi:
“Namaskar! Agla award ek aisi film ke liye hai, jo angrezi mein nahi hai.”
She then playfully added, “Don’t reach for the subtitles just yet,” before explaining her line in English and reflecting on how cinema connects people beyond language.
The award went to Sentimental Value, but the clip of Alia’s introduction quickly took on a life of its own online.
Samantha’s Sweet Shout-Out
On Monday, Samantha took to Instagram to repost the video of Alia’s speech. Without lengthy captions or dramatic commentary, she simply tagged Alia and added a white heart emoji — a quiet but clear show of support.
This isn’t the first time Samantha has publicly backed Alia.
Earlier, when Alia’s film Jigra faced criticism, Samantha had strongly defended her performance, calling her a “tigress” and praising the fearless choices she makes on screen. That moment had already shown mutual admiration between the two actors. The BAFTA shout-out only strengthened that bond.
In an industry often obsessed with rivalry narratives, this felt refreshingly supportive.
The Look That Turned Heads
Alia didn’t just make a statement with her words — she brought full old-Hollywood glamour to the red carpet.
She wore a shimmering silver sequinned gown paired with a white fur stole, a look reportedly inspired by Marilyn Monroe. The styling was elegant yet dramatic, perfectly in sync with the prestige of the BAFTAs while keeping her signature softness intact.
It was her first appearance at the awards, and she made sure it felt memorable.
What’s Next for Samantha and Alia?
Both stars are heading into packed release calendars.
Samantha will next be seen in Maa Inti Bangaaram, directed by Nandini Reddy and backed by Raj Nidimoru. The teaser hints at a mix of domestic drama and action, with Samantha playing a housewife navigating unexpected chaos. The film is slated for a May 15 theatrical release. She also has Raj & DK’s ambitious fantasy series Rakt Brahmand in the pipeline.
Alia, meanwhile, is gearing up for Alpha, part of YRF’s expanding spy universe, directed by Shiv Rawail and co-starring Sharvari and Bobby Deol. She’s also reuniting with Sanjay Leela Bhansali for Love & War, alongside Vicky Kaushal and Ranbir Kapoor — one of the most anticipated projects currently in development.
Final Words
Alia Bhatt’s BAFTA moment lasted only a few seconds — but its impact traveled far beyond London.
By starting her speech in Hindi, she reminded the world that global stages don’t require leaving your roots behind. And with Samantha Ruth Prabhu cheering her on publicly, it also highlighted something equally powerful — women in the industry uplifting one another.
In a week full of awards headlines, this was one of the warmest stories to come out of the night. And sometimes, that’s what truly stays with people.
