Alia Bhatt Faces Heat Again Over British Citizenship after Soni Razdan’s ‘hostilities’ post Amid Escalating Indo-Pak Tensions

May 13, 2025: Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt has found herself at the center of an unexpected controversy — not over a film or fashion choice, but because of her British citizenship, which has resurfaced in the wake of her mother Soni Razdan’s recent peace petition.

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As tensions between India and Pakistan intensify following military escalations and tragic civilian casualties, Soni Razdan shared an Instagram story urging her followers to “sign a petition” advocating for peace between the two nations. The message, which read “India, Pakistan: Stop the hostilities,” sparked strong backlash online, particularly aimed at the Bhatt family.

Many netizens accused Soni of showing misplaced priorities, with some saying the appeal felt tone-deaf given the reality of the situation on the ground — where Indian soldiers are defending borders amid artillery fire and drone strikes. The fact that Alia Bhatt is a British citizen added fuel to the outrage, with critics questioning her family’s loyalty to India.

One commenter wrote:

“While peace is the ideal goal, it’s important to acknowledge who is truly escalating the conflict… Urging peace without context feels disconnected from ground reality. Also, this message coming from someone whose daughter enjoys all the privileges of India while holding foreign citizenship raises concerns about sincerity and accountability.”

Soni Razdan replied directly to this, stating:

“My appeal for peace was not towards India but towards Pakistan. They are the aggressors, after all. We are simply retaliating, and rightly so… Also, it was more of a generalized statement. Hope that clarifies.”

She further explained in a follow-up post, now deleted, that her intention was not to question India’s military action, but to highlight that war benefits no one — a message she felt had been misinterpreted.

“Anyone who thinks that war is desirable has no idea what it really means… In such a war, no one wins except the player who’s watching from the stands while we blow each other up,” she wrote.

Soni concluded by saying:

“When it comes to defending our nation and our people, we have no choice. That is a given. We have to act. Be aware of the difference, that’s all. And pray that it doesn’t come to pass.”

Alia Bhatt has not yet commented on the situation. However, the renewed focus on her foreign citizenship has reignited a broader conversation about celebrities holding non-Indian passports while benefiting from Indian industry, public adulation, and socio-political influence.

As the situation between India and Pakistan continues to evolve, so too does the scrutiny on public figures who choose to speak — or remain silent — on matters of national importance.