It was a night filled with nostalgia and admiration for Bollywood’s golden era as Alia Bhatt attended a special event celebrating the 4K re-release of the iconic 1981 film Umrao Jaan. The event honoured the timeless performance of legendary actress Rekha.
To pay tribute, Alia Bhatt recreated Rekha’s classic look from Silsila. Dressed in a soft pink saree, paired with feather earrings, a red bindi, and minimal makeup, Alia beautifully channelled Rekha’s character “Chandni.” She posed for photographers with grace and elegance, just like Rekha once did.
Alia also shared pictures and videos from the event on Instagram, including a heartwarming photo with Rekha as they looked through a special coffee table book created to celebrate Umrao Jaan. This limited-edition book features rare behind-the-scenes photos, original costume sketches, and stories from the film’s set. In her post, Alia wrote, “An ode to a living legend … there never, was, is or will ever be another like you, ReMaa.”
Fashion stylist Rhea Kapoor confirmed that Alia’s look was inspired by Rekha’s Silsila style. In her Instagram story, Rhea shared a comparison and wrote, “Rekha ma in Silsila has given us fashion and heartbreak references for ages… The only way to pay homage is to do it correctly or not at all.”
Alia Bhatt and Rekha together 📸 pic.twitter.com/aJCzi78TKv
— Alia’s nation (@Aliasnation) June 26, 2025
Director Muzaffar Ali, who made Umrao Jaan, spoke at the event. He said the film wasn’t just a movie—it was a reflection of a lost culture and heritage. He praised Rekha for truly becoming the character and bringing the story to life. “I’m so happy this film is being shown again for a new generation,” he said.
Umrao Jaan, originally released in 1981, is based on the 1899 Urdu novel Umrao Jaan Ada by Mirza Hadi Ruswa. It tells the emotional story of a courtesan in Lucknow and won four National Awards, including Best Actress for Rekha. The newly restored version is now showing in theatres from June 27.
Read more: Rashmika Mandanna Shares First Look of Her New Warrior Film: “Hunted, Wounded, Unbroken”
On the professional front, Alia Bhatt is gearing up for her upcoming films — Love and War directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, co-starring Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal, and YRF’s spy thriller Alpha.
