Cinema VinesAt a bustling trailer launch in Mumbai, Bollywood star Alia Bhatt announced that her first production venture, the coming‑of‑age romantic comedy Don’t Be Shy, will see her introduce a fresh wave of talent to the industry. The 33‑year‑old actress, who began her career with Student of the Year in 2009, has teamed up with her sister Shaheeh Bhatt to produce the film under their own banner, Eternal Sunshine Productions, which they founded in 2021.
Bhatt explained that stepping behind the camera has given her a new sense of fulfilment. “It gives me another level of joy because we’ve been involved in building the world and story from the word go,” she told reporters. She added that she feels a mix of nerves and excitement, noting that she is now “introducing four new actors and a debutante director” after fourteen years of acting herself.
The film marks the directorial debut of Sreeti Mukerji, who also wrote the screenplay. Mukerji will be joined on screen by four newcomers: Aarushi Bajaj, Ansh Duggal, Bianca Arora and Piyush Khati. The cast also features Kunaal Roy Kapur, Anurag Basu, Neha Dhupia and Anju Alva Naik in pivotal roles.
Set in the life of 20‑year‑old Shyamili “Shy” Das, Don’t Be Shy follows a young woman who believes her life is mapped out until an unexpected event throws her plans into chaos. The story explores friendship, first love, heartbreak, bad decisions and the messy process of growing up, a theme Bhatt said “is very close to my heart” and believes audiences will resonate with.
During the event, Bhatt shared a childhood memory to illustrate the film’s exploration of expectations versus reality. She recalled her younger self being told by her mother that she was not her parents’ child, a moment she described as “ragebait” that shaped her view of growing up. Bhatt said the film captures that feeling and turns it into a messy, romantic, chaotic, fun and ultimately hopeful narrative.
Through Eternal Sunshine Productions, the Bhatt sisters have already produced projects such as Darlings, starring Alia, Shefali Shah and Vijay Varma, the series Poacher and Alia’s 2024 film Jigra. Their latest venture, Don’t Be Shy, promises to launch new talent while offering a fresh take on the universal journey of coming of age. The film will soon hit theatres, bringing a fresh wave of stories to the silver screen.
