London: Actor Alia Bhatt brought Hindi to the global stage at the BAFTA Film Awards 2026 as she presented the award for Best Film Not in the English Language, opening her speech with a warm “Namaskar”.
Taking the stage at the prestigious ceremony in London, Alia began her address in Hindi before seamlessly switching to English for the international audience.
“Namaskar! Agla award ek aisi film ke liye hai, jo angrezi mein nahi hai,” she said. She then added in English, “Don’t reach for the subtitles just yet. I was only saying in Hindi that the next award is for a film not in the English language. Because while film speaks in countless voices, what we always celebrate is the language of cinema. And that one we all speak fluently.”
Her decision to begin in Hindi drew applause and attention online, with many praising the gesture as a celebration of linguistic diversity on a global platform.
Celebrating global cinema
The award for Best Film Not in the English Language was eventually presented to the Norwegian film Sentimental Value, marking a significant win for international cinema at the ceremony.
Alia’s presence as a presenter placed her among a distinguished line-up of global stars at the event. The evening featured appearances by actors including Alicia Vikander, Bryan Cranston, Cillian Murphy, Kate Hudson, Gillian Anderson and Glenn Close, among others.
Ahead of her appearance, Alia told British Vogue that she “wanted to bring the glam” to the evening, hinting at a fashion-forward red carpet moment to complement her on-stage debut at the awards.
Indian stars at BAFTA
Alia is among the latest Indian actors to present at the BAFTAs in recent years, reflecting the growing global footprint of Indian cinema and talent. Priyanka Chopra appeared as a presenter at the ceremony in 2021, followed by Deepika Padukone in 2024.
Her Hindi introduction was seen by many as a symbolic nod to India’s expanding influence in global film conversations, particularly as Indian films and artists continue to gain recognition on international platforms.
Upcoming projects
On the professional front, Alia has two major projects in the pipeline — Alpha and Love & War. While shooting for Alpha has reportedly wrapped, its release has been postponed, with no new date announced so far.
Love & War, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and co-starring Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal, has also been delayed. The makers are yet to confirm a revised release schedule.
For now, however, it was Alia’s confident “Namaskar” that stood out — a brief but powerful reminder that cinema may be global, but language remains a vibrant marker of identity.