BAFTA Awards 2026: Alia Bhatt’s Namaskar turns the awards night into a proud moment
Actress Alia Bhatt’s BAFTA 2026 debut took an unexpected turn when she started her speech in Hindi. This is what everyone is talking about right now.
Alia Bhatt got her own room at the BAFTA Awards, it just needed one word. As he stepped onto the London stage to present the best film in the English language, he began with a warm “Hello” — and the Internet hasn’t stopped talking since.
Opening his speech in Hindi at one of Britain’s most prestigious cinema nights wasn’t just a stylistic flourish. It was a statement. Social media immediately crowned her “iconic”, lauding her decision to highlight her roots on the global stage. For many, it felt less like a debut and more like a quiet cultural acquisition.
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Why did Alia Bhatt speak in Hindi at BAFTA?
Presented by host Alan Cumming, Bhatt appeared in a silver gown and greeted the audience with “Namaste”, followed by, “The next award is for a film that is not in English.(The next award is for a film that is not in English.) “Don’t reach for the subtitles just yet,” she cheekily said, before switching to English.
Watch the video here:
This gesture underlined the spirit of the category it was presenting – celebrating cinema beyond the English language.
What did he say about the power of cinema?
Bhatt emphasized that films “speak innumerable voices”, adding that the true language of cinema is universal. “There’s nothing more powerful than human emotion and you don’t need language for it,” she said on the red carpet.
It was a sentiment that resonated deeply in the room dedicated to global storytelling.
Which film did not win the award for Best Film in the English Language?
The award went to the Norwegian family drama Sentimental Value, directed by Joachim Trier. The film won over strong contenders It Was Just an Accident, The Secret Agent, Seerat, and The Voice of Hind Rajab. With multiple nominations this season, its BAFTA win has further strengthened its awards momentum.
Why was that moment so important?
For Indian audiences, seeing Hindi spoken confidently on such a platform indicates representation without compromise. Bhatt, whose career flourished in the Hindi film industry before expanding internationally, seemed to bridge both worlds with ease.
a hello. A global platform. And suddenly, the conversation transcended language barriers to focused on shared emotions.
