Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt recently opened up about his wife Soni Razdan’s acting talent, stating that he considers her a better actor than their daughter, Alia Bhatt. In an interview with Screen, Mahesh praised Soni’s evolved acting style and admitted he couldn’t offer her many roles, despite being her life partner.
Mahesh explained, “I find Soni Razdan a better actor than Alia. You might wonder why I’m saying this, but her idiom is so evolved. Her style of expression, body language, and nuances don’t align with what we typically see in mainstream Indian cinema. Even though I was in a position to give her roles, I couldn’t do justice to her abilities.”
He added that Soni’s depth and subtlety as a performer often go unnoticed because of her unconventional style, which doesn’t fit into the commercial mold. Her unique screen presence, according to Mahesh, is something that sets her apart from many of her contemporaries.
During the conversation, Mahesh also recalled a moment when he advised Alia to watch one of Soni’s performances to gain perspective. He said, “At a time when Alia was delivering back-to-back blockbusters like Udta Punjab (2016), I told her, ‘Before you start thinking there’s no better actor than you, watch your mother’s film.’ I was referring to Yours Truly (2018), directed by Sanjoy Nag, where I also did a cameo. Alia is a smart girl, so she watched it.”
Mahesh further praised Soni’s work in the BBC show Neighbours and reiterated that she has consistently delivered powerful performances that haven’t always received the recognition they deserve.
Soni Razdan has also spoken publicly about her personal and professional struggles. In a recent interview with News18, she reflected on the challenges of creating her own identity in an industry where she’s often seen as “somebody else’s somebody.”
She said, “All my life, even now, I’m somebody else’s somebody. Let me be very loud and clear… My struggle is still to be known by who I am. I’m happy for the people around me, who’re doing so well in their lives. How could I not be? I’m grateful. But perhaps that’s how my journey was meant to be.”
Soni’s filmography with Mahesh Bhatt includes several notable titles. She starred in Saaransh (1984), Daddy (1989), Saathi, Swayam, Sadak (1991), Gumrah, Sir (1993), and Papa Kehte Hain (1996). More recently, they collaborated on Nazar (2005) and Yours Truly (2018).
Alia Bhatt, on the other hand, has become one of Bollywood’s leading actresses with critically acclaimed and commercially successful films like Raazi, Gully Boy, Gangubai Kathiawadi, and Darlings. While Mahesh acknowledges Alia’s success and talent, he maintains that Soni’s depth as an actor often surpasses what is typically recognized or rewarded in mainstream cinema.
