Sona Mohapatra backs Alia Bhatt amid trolling over award show hosting, urges Bollywood to ‘learn to laugh’

Mumbai: Singer Sona Mohapatra has come out in support of actress Alia Bhatt after the latter faced online trolling for her hosting debut at the Screen Awards 2026.

Alia, who shared the stage with comedian Zakir Khan and actor-comedian Sunil Grover, drew criticism on social media, with some users calling her performance “over-the-top” and “awkward”. Clips from the event quickly went viral, sparking widespread debate over her hosting style.

Responding to the backlash, Sona defended the actress, highlighting the challenges of performing live on stage. She pointed out that live hosting comes without retakes or edits, making it a demanding task that many in the industry avoid. According to her, Alia’s willingness to take on the role itself was commendable.

The singer also shifted focus to the audience, describing Bollywood award show crowds as often unresponsive and difficult to engage. Drawing from her own experience, she said that performers frequently face a “tough” room where energy and participation are lacking, which can affect how acts are received.

Addressing comparisons between Alia and Zakir Khan, Sona emphasised that the two come from different performance backgrounds, noting that while Zakir is an established stand-up comedian, Alia is primarily an actor. She argued that such comparisons are unfair and overlook their distinct skill sets.

Concluding her remarks, Sona expressed confidence that Alia would improve with time and urged the industry to adopt a more supportive attitude. She called on Bollywood to “learn to laugh a little”, stressing that a more encouraging environment would benefit performers attempting new roles.