Filmfare Awards 2017: Alia Bhatt’s powerful performance in Udta Punjab gets her Best Actor Female award

Also read | Filmfare Awards 2017: Complete list of winners

In all her three onscreen outings in 2016 — Kapoor & Sons, Udta Punjab and Dear Zindagi (not counting her blink-and-miss appearance as DJ Alia in Karan Johar’s movie Ae Dil Hai Mushkil) — she tried to achieve a certain versatility. In Kapoor & Sons and Dear Zindagi, she played urban characters who are struggling with their past. The latter relied on her heavily. Shah Rukh Khan’s extended cameo as an unconventional shrink was the perfect foil to Bhatt’s lost-in-the-woods character. Alia Bhatt added life to the three roles she played this year.

But, it was with Udta Punjab that she tried to push the envelop as a Bihari migrant labourer who is sucked into the dreadful world of drug peddlers. In spite of many finding fault with her Bihari twang, Bhatt impressed the audience with her gritty portrayal of a girl who goes through hell and is determined enough to fight it.

See Alia Bhatt posing with her Filmfare award:

#JioFilmfareAwards

The supremely talented @aliaa08 takes home the Best Actor (Female) Award for #UdtaPunjab. pic.twitter.com/cAz0tVNk3R

— Filmfare (@filmfare) January 14, 2017

Probably among the most talented in the young crop of actors, Alia is going strength to strength with every performance. And thus her Best Actor (Female) win amongst the films we saw in the year 2016, is well deserved.

Filmfare Awards 2017: Watch Alia Bhatt at the red carpet

A performer and a nominee tonight, which were @aliaa08‘s favourite performances of the year? #JioFilmfareAwards pic.twitter.com/AAfmh4KWWv

— Filmfare (@filmfare) January 14, 2017

Filmfare Awards 2017: See a few pics of Alia Bhatt as she arrived at the red carpet

Filmfare Awards 2017: See a few posts congratulating Alia Bhatt for this success

@aliaa08 Once u become fearless life becomes limitless. Congratulations to u my little big girl!! pic.twitter.com/Ypn63hPyXp

— Mahesh Bhatt (@MaheshNBhatt) January 15, 2017

Congratulations to this bundle of talent @aliaa08! Every time I see her perform I message her saying ‘But how?!’. May there be many more💕🌟

— Athiya Shetty (@theathiyashetty) January 15, 2017

Congratulations to @aliaa08 and @diljitdosanjh for the much deserved awards. Here’s to cinema with content. Say no to drugs. #whosthegabru

— Shahid Kapoor (@shahidkapoor) January 15, 2017

Hearty congratulations, Alia!