Every Sunday, Alia Used To Dance At Home To A Hit Song

On Mother's Day, Soni Razdan tells us all about her younger daughter who has become a hot star

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Every Sunday, Alia Used To Dance At Home To A Hit Song
Did you want a son/daughter when you were pregnant for the second time?

I have a sister and we share a very strong bond. I wanted a sister for my daughter Shaheen. I was delighted that my second baby too was a girl. I named her Alia, which means 'beautiful' in Russian.



Let's talk about Alia's childhood days...

 Between Shaheen and her, she was the easier one--- funny, friendly, happy-go-lucky. She may not have been a genius, but she loved going to school. Teachers loved her. She was a model daughter until she turned 14. I had never had any conflict with her till then. Suddenly I  began to see some teenage tantrums. I was quite surprised because she hadn't shown that side of her to me. She would lock herself in the room and cry, and I used to get terribly worried. It is very natural for a teenager to be moody or get depressed or cry... but the change in her came rather out of the blue. So, I was quite taken aback (pauses). 
 
Go on...
Alia never tells her problems to us. She wants to handle them herself. This is one trait in her which even her friends find it very disconcerting. Alia is a closed book.
 
Did she always want to be an actress?
Oh yes. Nothing else but an actress. She was a born performer. Every Sunday she used to dance to one hit song in front of Mahesh, Shaheen and I (laughs). 



Are you serious?
Yeah. Her friends used to join in, and we used to have a full-on show. And she wouldn't stop till the full song was over.

And then Student of the Year (SOTY) happened...
I still can't forget the day when I got a call from Karan Johar's office that he wanted to meet us for a film. Alia and I were leaving for a trek in the Himalayas. Her plans to go abroad for higher studies and lose weight were yet to be put into action.  When we left to meet Karan, I had categorically told her that she shouldn't count her chickens before they are hatched. Thankfully, she had her head on her shoulders.

 
Now that she is successful, how do you help her avoid getting carried away?
That's where Mahesh comes in. He has often given her a lecture on how actors have got carried away and faced undesirable consequences.
 
Were there days when Alia came home upset if Karan had asked for many retakes?
No, Karan was very gentle with his new cast. 
 
Did you go on the sets of SOTY?
I accompanied Alia on every shoot.

What?! 
(Laughs) Yeah, Karan had asked me to be around.

Do you still land up on the sets?
No way. I stopped accompanying her when she started work on Highway. She said she wanted to be on her own.
 
Do Mahesh and you set time limits for her when she is out with her friends?
No, how can that happen now?
 
Is she more like you than like her father? 
Yes, she is more like me. She is very balanced. She is very clear about many things. Like for one, she will never do a film just to be nice to somebody. She will do a film only if her gut and gumption tell her to do it.


 
Is she more close to you or her father?
Mother and daughter often have a special relationship isn't it? Mahesh was very busy when Alia was growing up. She has spent maximum time with me. Alia and Mahesh are discovering their relationship now.
 
Is there a Mahesh Bhatt side to Alia?
Yes, and it will come out. She is only 22 now.


 
How is Alia's equation with Shaheen? Has your wish of sister bonding come true?
Yes. Alia relies on her sister to keep her grounded. Shaheen is very pragmatic, smart and understanding. 
 
Do Alia and Shaheen share the same room?
No, not anymore.
 
Alia is planning to shift out isn't she?
Yeah, but I don't want her to go so soon. I still take care of many things in her life. I even manage her finances.
 
What does she like to eat the most? 
She loves pastas and dal-chawal, but is off pastas for now.
 
What do you call her fondly?
Alu.


 
What you dislike about her the most?
She doesn't discuss things with me. She should talk to me about everything.
 
What you like about her the most?
She is unaffected by praise and criticism.
 
What is your contribution to her fitness regime?
I ensure that she gets the right food to maintain her weight. Many times we make separate food for her as per her diet plan. A lot of things can happen if one's diet goes topsy-turvy. Hair start falling if you stop eating. 



Did that happen with Alia?
Yes.
 
Will Alia return to her studies?
I don't think so, but she just might go abroad for a year and do some course related to fine arts.

Do you have a chat with her when she is written about for her link-ups?
I am not an indulgent mother who demands answers for everything. Aisa to kuch nahin likha gaya hai that I need to question her.

(Tune in to SpotboyE.com The Show on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9 pm and Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 1 pm on 9XM)
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