We speak the language of cinema: Alia Bhatt at Bafta 2026
Making her first appearance at the BAFTAs, Alia Bhatt brought a touch of desi flair to the 79th British Academy Film Awards at London’s Royal Festival Hall on 23rd February ( Bangladesh time) . The actress walked the red carpet in a custom Gucci gown featuring a sculpted silhouette and high neckline, channeling the glamour of Marilyn Monroe with a dramatic white fur stole.
On stage as a presenter, Bhatt began her speech with a warm “Namaskar” in Hindi, before switching to English to translate her words for the audience.
“Namaskar! Agla award ek aisi film ke liye hai, jo angrezi mein nahi hai,” she said, which means, “Hello! The next award is for a film that is not in the English language.”
She added with a smile, “Don’t reach for the subtitles just yet. I was simply saying in Hindi that the next award is for a film not in English. While films speak in countless voices, what we always celebrate is the language of cinema—a language we all understand fluently. And the incredible nominees are…”
The nominees for Best Film Not in the English Language included "It Was Just an Accident", "The Secret Agent", "Sentimental Value", "Sirāt", and "The Voice of Hind Rajab". In the end, "Sentimental Value" took home the award, marking a memorable moment of the night.

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