Alia Bhatt says meeting Viola Davis at Cannes left her nervous and speechless
Bollywood actor Alia Bhatt returned to the Cannes Film Festival this year with confidence, designer couture and global attention. Yet amid the glamour of the red carpet, the actor admitted that one memory from her first appearance at Cannes still makes her smile — meeting Hollywood star Viola Davis.
During a recent conversation with The Hollywood Reporter India, Alia recalled how overwhelmed she felt while meeting Davis at the festival for the first time in 2025.
She said her hands started shaking the moment she approached the Oscar-winning actor. Alia also admitted that she struggled to find words because nervousness completely took over.
The actor explained that she still enjoys feeling star-struck around artists she admires deeply. According to her, cinema continues to excite her as both a performer and a fan.
At Cannes this year, Alia once again drew major attention on the red carpet as the global ambassador for L’Oréal Paris. Crowds gathered outside the venue while photographers followed her fashion appearances through the festival.
On her opening day, Alia appeared in a sea-foam green couture gown designed by Yash Patil. The outfit featured hand-painted Riviera-inspired artwork and quickly became one of the most discussed fashion moments from the festival.
A day later, she switched styles completely and chose a custom outfit by Tarun Tahiliani. The ensemble drew inspiration from the Indian saree while blending modern red-carpet aesthetics. Social media users compared the look to the visual style of Bridgerton, while fashion pages praised the fusion of Indian and international design influences.
Away from fashion, Alia’s remarks about Viola Davis sparked strong reactions online because many fans related to the feeling of becoming speechless around admired artists.
Davis remains one of the most celebrated performers in Hollywood. Over the years, she earned global recognition through films such as The Help, Fences and The Woman King. Television audiences also widely praised her performance in How to Get Away with Murder.
Her career achievements place her among the few actors to secure the “Triple Crown of Acting,” which includes an Oscar, an Emmy and Tony Awards.
Meanwhile, Alia now prepares for a busy film schedule back home.
The actor currently awaits the release of Alpha, directed by Shiv Rawail. The action thriller also stars Sharvari, Bobby Deol and Anil Kapoor. The project forms part of the expanding Yash Raj Films spy universe and will release in July 2026.
In addition, Alia continues work on Love & War with director Sanjay Leela Bhansali. The film also stars Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal.
Though, one of the biggest highlights from Alia’s Cannes journey did not come from flashing cameras or fashion headlines. Instead, it came from a quiet, nervous moment with one of her cinematic idols.
