10 March,2017 03:19 PM IST | | Sonil Dedhia
Mahesh Bhatt recalls death threat to daughter Alia Bhatt from a man from Uttar Pradesh just before she was about to promote her film 'Badrinath Ki Dulhaniya' in Lucknow
Alia Bhatt and Mahesh Bhatt
Last week, the Bhatt household was filled with horror after an extortionist from Uttar Pradesh threatened filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, saying he will "pump his actress-daughter Alia and wife Soni Razdan with bullets" if he doesn't cough up Rs 50 lakh. While Mahesh confesses he was concerned about the safety of the two, a chat with Alia helped calm frayed nerves.
"She was supposed to leave for film promotions in Lucknow. I made her and Soni sit down and explained to them the gravity of the situation. At the same time, I contacted the Mumbai police, who were very efficient. During that point, Alia said with me around, she didn't need to worry," says Mahesh.
mid-day's March 2 report on death threats
The veteran filmmaker, however, misses the everyday sight of daughters Alia and Shaheen, who moved out of the family home almost four months ago. "Earlier, every morning, we would catch up in the living room over a cup of coffee. I miss that. It's difficult to not find them in the house anymore. But they stay across the road, so they are just a call away. They often come down to see me and Soni."
Mahesh says he's proud of Alia's rising career graph since her debut in 'Student Of The Year' (2012). "People expected her to be a mannequin, rightly so, because she was showcased that way. But 'Highway' (2014) was a great film to have happened to her. She is a risk-taker and it has worked for her."
