Karan Johar Reveals How ‘Highway’ Transformed Alia Bhatt’s Career: "I Always Believed She Was a Star"

Karan Johar, one of Bollywood’s most successful filmmakers, has launched several fresh talents who later became superstars. One of his most remarkable discoveries is Alia Bhatt, who has now cemented her place among the top actresses in the industry. During his appearance on Komal Nahta's Game Changers podcast, Karan shared his thoughts on Alia’s journey and how her performance in Highway transformed her career.

Karan recalled the moment he first saw Alia and recognized her potential. However, he admitted that even he didn’t anticipate the kind of actress she would become. “I always believed she was a star, but I couldn't predict she would become this kind of actress. I knew she was a good actor, solid, and could face the camera. I always say this,” he said.

Talking about her breakthrough, he added, “Her emotional launch was Student of the Year, but her professional launch was Highway. That film opened all the doors to her acting. It proved that she is an outstanding actress, not just a star.”

Highway (2014), directed by Imtiaz Ali, featured Alia in the role of Veera, a young woman who finds unexpected freedom in captivity. Her raw and emotionally intense performance impressed critics and audiences alike, proving her versatility as an actress. This film marked a major shift in her career and set her apart from the usual glamorous Bollywood heroines.

On the work front, Karan Johar is busy with his upcoming production, Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, starring Varun Dhawan, Janhvi Kapoor, Sanya Malhotra, and Rohit Saraf. Directed by Shashank Khaitan, the film is set to release on April 18, 2025. He is also backing Tu Meri Main Tera, Main Tera Tu Meri, featuring Kartik Aaryan. Additionally, under his Dharma Productions banner, he is producing Kesari Chapter 2 with Akshay Kumar and R. Madhavan. Meanwhile, Alia Bhatt is set to star in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love and War and her upcoming thriller Alpha.