Alia Bhatt’s Cannes Remarks on ‘Male-Centric’ Cinema Spark Hypocrisy Debate Over ‘Animal’ Support

Alia Bhatt’s presence at the 79th Cannes Film Festival has indeed become a lightning rod for both high-fashion praise and sharp industry criticism. While her aesthetic choices have leaned into a “soft power” princess vibe, her recent commentary on the state of Indian cinema has ignited a fierce debate online.

Here is a breakdown of the two sides of her Cannes journey so far:

The “Princess” Aesthetic

Alia has served two distinct looks that have been widely praised for their youthful, romantic elegance:

• The “Riviera” Debut: For her first appearance, she wore a mint-green midi ball dress by Yash Patil. The gown featured hand-painted botanical embroidery and a voluminous skirt, which fans on platforms like Reddit have dubbed “effortlessly chic” and perfectly suited to her “ingenue” essence.
• The Peach Couture: For the opening ceremony and premiere of The Electric Kiss, she shifted to a custom blush-pink (or peach) strapless gown by Tamara Ralph. Styled by Rhea Kapoor, the look featured a structured corset bodice and flowing sheer drapes, further cementing the “Disney princess” comparisons.

The “Male-Centric” Controversy

The backlash stems from an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India at the festival, where Alia advocated for “gender-agnostic“ storytelling.

What She Said:

“I’m not saying we alienate the men, but why do we have to alienate anybody? Why do we have to cater to one gender? Why can’t we make movies where the storytelling takes center stage? Whether it stars a man or a woman, that should not matter.”

Why It Sparked a “Hypocrisy” Debate:

• The Animal Connection: Netizens were quick to point out that Alia was a vocal “cheerleader” for her husband Ranbir Kapoor’s 2023 film Animal, which was criticized by many as being the pinnacle of toxic, male-centric, and misogynistic cinema. Critics argue she cannot take a moral stand against “mass” male-catered films while actively promoting them at home.
• The Dhurandhar Snub: Fans of the blockbuster Dhurandhar franchise (which has seen historic box office success in 2025-26) accused her of being “selective” or “jealous.” They noted that she lamented the lack of female-driven success while allegedly ignoring the massive impact of recent regional and commercial milestones that did bring women to theaters.
• Performative Activism: Some social media users labeled her remarks as “performative,” suggesting that she speaks about representation at international forums like Cannes while her filmography and public endorsements often align with the very “mass audience” structures she questioned.

The Defense

Despite the noise, many supporters have come to her defense, arguing that a woman should be allowed to critique industry-wide systemic biases without her personal life or her husband’s career choices being used to silence her. Supporters maintain that her call for more “gender-agnostic” scripts is a valid professional observation, especially as she prepares for her own women-led spy thriller, Alpha.