Alia Bhatt says Indian cinema still caters more to men despite success of women-led films globally: 'Why focus on only one gender?'
ETimes | May 13, 2026 7:39 AM CST
While women-led films in Hollywood continue to dominate the global box office, Alia Bhatt feels Indian cinema still largely focuses on catering to male viewers.
The actress, who is currently attending the Cannes Film Festival, recently spoke about the need for more gender-neutral storytelling in Indian films. According to her, cinema should focus on stories rather than whether the lead actor is male or female.
‘What about women viewers?’During a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter India, Alia said the global box office over the last few years has shown how women-centric films can become massive commercial successes.
Referring to the Indian film industry, the actress said discussions around box office numbers often revolve around the idea that the majority of moviegoers are men, which is why filmmakers tend to target the “mass audience”.
However, Alia questioned what happens to female viewers if films are designed keeping only men in mind.
She clarified that she is not asking filmmakers to exclude male audiences, but believes films should be “gender-agnostic”, where storytelling remains the biggest priority
“It shouldn’t matter whether a film stars a man or a woman. The story should matter,” Alia said, while adding that she hopes to see more women-led theatrical films in the future.
Alia’s Cannes appearances grab attention onlineApart from her statements, Alia has also been making headlines for her fashion choices at Cannes this year.
For her first appearance at the festival, the actress wore a dreamy gown featuring a sweetheart neckline and French Riviera-inspired detailing, giving fans major princess vibes.
For her second red carpet outing, Alia opted for a peach-toned body-hugging couture gown with a plunging neckline and a dramatic dupatta-style drape around her arms.
On the work front, Alia Bhatt will next be seen in Alpha, the first women-led film from Yash Raj Films’ Spy Universe.
The film also stars Bobby Deol and Sharvari Wagh in pivotal roles.
The actress, who is currently attending the Cannes Film Festival, recently spoke about the need for more gender-neutral storytelling in Indian films. According to her, cinema should focus on stories rather than whether the lead actor is male or female.
‘What about women viewers?’During a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter India, Alia said the global box office over the last few years has shown how women-centric films can become massive commercial successes.
Referring to the Indian film industry, the actress said discussions around box office numbers often revolve around the idea that the majority of moviegoers are men, which is why filmmakers tend to target the “mass audience”.
However, Alia questioned what happens to female viewers if films are designed keeping only men in mind.
She clarified that she is not asking filmmakers to exclude male audiences, but believes films should be “gender-agnostic”, where storytelling remains the biggest priority
“It shouldn’t matter whether a film stars a man or a woman. The story should matter,” Alia said, while adding that she hopes to see more women-led theatrical films in the future.
Alia’s Cannes appearances grab attention onlineApart from her statements, Alia has also been making headlines for her fashion choices at Cannes this year.
For her first appearance at the festival, the actress wore a dreamy gown featuring a sweetheart neckline and French Riviera-inspired detailing, giving fans major princess vibes.
For her second red carpet outing, Alia opted for a peach-toned body-hugging couture gown with a plunging neckline and a dramatic dupatta-style drape around her arms.
On the work front, Alia Bhatt will next be seen in Alpha, the first women-led film from Yash Raj Films’ Spy Universe.
The film also stars Bobby Deol and Sharvari Wagh in pivotal roles.
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