Home > 

Alia Bhatt to Champion Child Empowerment at Inaugural ‘Hope Gala’ in London


In a philanthropic endeavor that aligns with her role off-screen as a changemaker, Alia Bhatt, one of Bollywood’s most revered actresses, will be taking on the mantle of host for the inaugural ‘Hope Gala’ to be held in London’s prestigious Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park on March 28. This charitable event, supported by the Mandarin Oriental hotel group in an exclusive partnership, stems from a heartfelt initiative to bolster and empower Mumbai’s vulnerable ‘at-risk’ children, in support of the Salaam Bombay Foundation.

The Salaam Bombay Foundation has earned accolades for its outstanding efforts in promoting child welfare, primarily focusing on children who are on the brink of succumbing to life’s adverse circumstances. Through its dynamic in-school leadership and advocacy programs, coupled with after-school skill-building academies, the Foundation intertwines confidence and self-esteem building while encouraging children to stay committed to their education. Alia’s association with such a noble cause as her chosen charity adds a notable gravitas to the event.

Reportedly, the ‘Hope Gala’ is poised to attract a host of esteemed industrialists and philanthropists from both India and London who are expected to offer their support for this commendable initiative. The event promises to be a significant affair, bridging geographical divides to unite people in backing the mission of uplifting children’s lives.

Meanwhile, on the professional front, Alia Bhatt offers her fans a peek into her latest cinematic venture. The talented actress and producer recently wrapped up shooting for the film ‘Jigra’, where she co-stars with the up-and-coming actor Vedang Raina. In celebration of completing the film, Alia took to Instagram to share some candid shots from the sets along with her co-star. Her caption exuded excitement for the project: “jigra oh… abki teri baari ho @vedangraina & that’s a film wrap on #JIGRA @vasanbala @swapsagram. See you soon… 27th September 2024 at a cinema near you.”

In these shared pictures, Alia showcased an intriguing new look for her role, sporting a chic short hairdo, while the camaraderie between her and Vedang was palpable. Vedang mirrored Alia’s sentiments on his Instagram page, where he outlined the profound impact of his film role and his eagerness for audiences to witness the story unfold in cinemas.

Honed by director Vasan Bala, renowned for the critically-acclaimed ‘Monica O My Darling’ and other notable films, ‘Jigra’ is additionally co-produced under the banner of Karan Johar, adding another layer of anticipation for its release slated for September 27, 2024. Bala’s directorial expertise paired with Alia Bhatt’s on-screen prowess marks an eagerly awaited first-time cinematic collaboration for the duo. The upcoming film explores a sister’s bond with her brother and encapsulates the lengths she would traverse to shield him.

Furthermore, Alia is set to grace the silver screen with yet another promising project – ‘Jee Le Zaraa’. Directed by Farhan Akhtar, this film is heralded as a narrative that will resonate with themes of friendship, echoing the essence of seminal Bollywood classics like ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ and ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’. Joining forces with Alia in this star-studded cast are Priyanka Chopra and Katrina Kaif, though the commencement of this project is still on the horizon.

This articulation of Alia Bhatt’s profound endeavors both in the cinematic landscape and her impassioned charity work reiterates her multifaceted influence as an actor, producer, and humanitarian. Fans and well-wishers alike anticipate the ‘Hope Gala’ and her film ventures with bated breath. It is worth noting that this account has been obtained from syndicated third-party agencies. Thus, no responsibility or liability for the data’s reliability, trustworthiness, and authenticity is assumed by the disseminating media entity.