A silver sequined Gucci gown, a warm “Namaskar” in Hindi, and a conversation about motherhood made the night memorable. Alia Bhatt made a subtle but triumphant debut on the BAFTA stage on February 22. She stepped out to present the award for films not in English and immediately set a warm, inclusive tone with a Hindi “Namaskar.” After that, she switched to English to celebrate the universal language of cinema.

On the red carpet she leaned into old Hollywood glamour in a custom silver, sequined Gucci gown finished with a plush white fur stole, a look that paired vintage polish with modern drama and quickly became a talking point across fashion pages.

When asked what fuels her work, she answered with honesty that played well on the international stage: that performing feels as natural to her as breathing. “I came out of my mother’s womb on action,” she joked, and that her three-year-old daughter, Raha, is the current source of her biggest inspiration as she watches the little one grow and dance to her songs, as a mother, she is emotional.

The bilingual opening and the confident delivery won praise online and from peers in the industry; the moment spawned clips and reactions across social platforms, with several celebrities and fans calling the greeting iconic.

Outside the BAFTA moment, the appearance also served as a reminder of the actor’s busy slate she’s lined up to return in the rom-com she shares with her husband, Ranbir Kapoor, and will also be seen in another YRF project alongside Vicky Kaushal, but for one evening in London, it was the mix of style, culture, and motherhood that captured headlines and hearts.