Imtiaz Ali, the renowned Bollywood director and producer, recently made headlines by revealing how the casting of his acclaimed 2014 film Highway came about. In an open interview, Ali disclosed that Alia Bhatt, who played Veera, was not his first choice for the role.
Initial Vision for the Character
Ali’s original idea of the leading character in the highway film was completely different from what he later developed. The director initially envisions a more mature lady, unlike a young girl like Alia Bhatt. According to him, while talking about this seasoned lady, a change from her usually serious disposition would sustain the intricacies of her journey throughout the movie. He admitted that it was this perception that influenced him to say that only an older actress could effectively communicate with viewers, which caused Veera to change so much.
The Turning Point: Meeting Alia Bhatt
When Imtiaz Ali met Alia Bhatt, everything changed. Despite initial doubts, Ali, however, found Bhatts’ performance stunningly accurate to life and complete of emotions. According to him, this depiction by Alia indicates immense talent that Ali had never seen before. The way she exposed her emotions deeply and naturally convinced him that he had indeed cast appropriately.
Ali’s decision to cast Alia Bhatt was significant on many levels, too. Her youthfulness added depth to Veera’s character—an angle that resonated with the narrative quite unexpectedly. This shift did more than just change how the character looked; it also contributed to making the storytelling method peculiar.
Aishwarya Rai as a Contender
Before settling on Alia Bhatt, Imtiaz Ali considered Aishwarya Rai, another famous actress, as well as other leading ladies like Priyanka Chopra (Pathak). Ali thought Rai radiated maturity and sophistication suitable for such a conceptualization of a role at its inception; he saw her in a more natural appearance, without any makeup on. Rai’s mature complexion and experienced looks appear to be assets for the character until Ali meets Alia.
Impact on Highway and Alia Bhatt’s Career
The casting of Alia Bhatt in Highway proved to be a game-changer for both the film and the actress herself. The credit she received for the portrayal of Veera confirmed her versatility as an actress. Her performance turned out to be an asset for this particular movie, further establishing her status as one of the best actresses in Bollywood.
Imtiaz Ali’s decision continued to earn him accolades due to his unique storytelling technique and character development. As a result, Highway was such a hit, with a particularly outstanding performance by Alia Bhatt (Nair).
Imtiaz Ali’s revelation about the Highway casting process is how unpredictable it can get when shooting at times. This audacious new vision that came from watching herself perform is what made the film wildly celebrated later on by critics. The story of Veera, which was acted by Bhatt, just like many other decisions taken during filming, shows that creative decision-making is constantly changing in every frame….
