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Shalini Pandey shuts down Alia Bhatt comparisons, insisting she wants to be recognised for her own individuality.
Alia Bhatt and Shalini Pandey.
Shalini Pandey became an overnight sensation in 2017 with her debut opposite Vijay Deverakonda in Arjun Reddy. Her innocent charm and sizzling chemistry with Vijay captivated fans, making her the internet’s latest crush. Fast forward to 2024, and she once again grabbed headlines with Maharaj, Aamir Khan’s son Junaid Khan’s debut film. However, this time, her resemblance to Alia Bhatt—both in looks and voice—had netizens buzzing. But is Shalini flattered by the comparison? Not quite.
In a recent chat with Instant Bollywood, the Arjun Reddy star addressed the ongoing comparisons to Alia Bhatt. She made it clear that while the love is appreciated, she doesn’t want to be boxed in.
“Alia hai! We don’t need another Alia, and no one should be another Alia, because Alia is so amazing,” Shalini said. “Not just because of her films—of course, she’s incredible onscreen. But personally, from what I’ve seen of Alia offscreen as well, I admire her.”
Shalini further explained, “I don’t want to be that because there is one Alia. Of course, there are so many admirable qualities that you want to take, but I also want to have my own individuality. I want people to look at me for who Shalini is rather than box me into something. That I’m not okay with. But when they compare me with love, of course, it’s a great comparison because she’s just lovely.”
Despite her clarification, social media remains fixated on the uncanny similarities. A user commented, “Voice and tone are exactly like Alia… some angles she looks just like her. 😍” Another echoed, “She even talks like Alia! The resemblance is insane.” Meanwhile, a netizen speculated, “She’s irritated by the comparison but won’t outright say ‘I don’t like this’ because of Alia’s stardom.”
Regardless of the chatter, Shalini is focused on carving her own path in Bollywood, determined to be known for her own talent rather than as a doppelganger of an established star.
