As Netflix gears up for the premiere of Dining With the Kapoors, fans couldn’t help but notice one major absence — Alia Bhatt, who is usually front-and-centre in Kapoor family gatherings. With the internet buzzing, Ranbir Kapoor’s cousin Armaan Jain has now addressed why Alia isn’t part of the streaming special.
“Work comes first,” says Armaan Jain
Armaan, who has been closely involved with the show’s concept, revealed that Alia simply couldn’t make it because of prior work commitments. “I might sound filmy, but like Raj Kapoor said, work is worship,” he explained, adding that Alia had a packed shooting schedule that clashed with the dates.
Director Smriti Mundhra backs it up
Series director Smriti Mundhra echoed the same sentiment, calling the Kapoor clan a “family of workaholics.” She said the group is always juggling multiple projects, and it’s normal for one or two members to miss an event — even something as big as a streaming special. According to her, “There’s always an understanding, but schedules don’t always align.”
Not a big family drama
Armaan stressed that Alia’s absence shouldn’t be over-analysed. He said that even for major festivals like Christmas and Diwali, it’s hard to get the entire family in one room. “Someone’s always shooting,” he joked, dismissing any gossip about tension or disagreements.
Alia still showed support
Even though she couldn’t film with the rest of the Kapoors, Alia made sure to amplify the show online. She shared the trailer on her Instagram Stories, cheering on the family and the project.
Conclusion
While fans may miss her presence, the reason behind Alia’s absence from Dining With the Kapoors is straightforward — work commitments and scheduling crunch. And with the show set to drop on Netflix soon, the Kapoor family still promises plenty of warmth, nostalgia and candid moments.