Alia Bhatt greets BAFTA audience in Hindi, celebrates cinema beyond borders

Actor Alia Bhatt created a viral moment at the BAFTA 2026 ceremony with her first-ever appearance as a presenter at the 79th British Academy Film Awards. Bhatt was invited to announce the winner in the “Film Not in the English Language” category, marking a significant milestone in her international journey.

Before revealing the winner, Bhatt surprised the audience by opening her presentation in Hindi, greeting them with “Namaskar.” She explained that the upcoming award was for a film not in English and reminded the audience that while cinema speaks in many voices, it is ultimately the language of cinema that unites storytelling across borders. Her brief yet confident Hindi address drew widespread attention online, with videos of the moment quickly going viral. Fans flooded social media with reactions, praising Bhatt’s global representation and calling her presence on the BAFTA stage “iconic.”

The category featured an international lineup including It Was Just an Accident, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, Sirat and The Voice of Hind Rajab, with Sentimental Value winning the award. For the evening, Bhatt wore a custom silver sequined Gucci gown, paired with a white fur stole, sleek hair and understated makeup.