Karan Johar recently opened about Alia Bhatt and said that he had always believed her to be a star but he couldn’t predict she would become the kind of actor she is today. The director-producer said that her emotional launch happened in Student of the Year (2012) but it was Imtiaz Ali’s Highway (2014) that launched her professionally.

During a conversation on the podcast of Komal Nahta, Karan said, “I always believed she was a star, but I couldn't predict she would become this kind of actor. I knew she was a good actor, solid, and could face the camera. I always say this.”

He added, “Her emotional launch was in Student of the Year, but her professional launch was Highway. That film opened all the doors to her acting. It proved that she is an outstanding actor, not just a star.”

In Highway, Alia played the role of Veera, a young woman who finds freedom in captivity. The film also starred Randeep Hooda alongside her.

Karan and Alia collaborated recently on the romantic-drama Rocky Aur Rani Kii Premi Kahaani, which released in theatres in 2023.