“More Nervous Than Newcomers”

Alia Bhatt has turned producer with Don’t Be Shy, an upcoming young-adult coming-of-age romantic comedy under her banner, Eternal Sunshine Productions, co-produced with her sister Shaheen Bhatt. The film does not star Alia as an actor. She is on board as the creative force. In line with her commitment to backing fresh talent, Alia is launching four newcomers in lead roles — Aarushi Bajaj as Shy Das, Ansh Duggal, Bianca Arora and Piyush Khati — along with a debutant director.

Says Alia, “Fourteen years ago, I made my debut as an actor and fourteen years later I am introducing four new actors and a debutant director. I am way more nervous than they are right now. I really have butterflies in my stomach. I love being an actor and being in front of the camera, but being a producer gives me a different kind of fulfilment, a different kind of joy, because we’ve been involved in building the world and the story from the word go. It is a story very close to my heart and everyone will resonate with it because we all love what comes with growing up.”