Not one to be blinded by parental affection-he is yet to give an acting break to his son Rahul-writer and former filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt is clean-bowled by his youngest daughter Alia Bhatt's performance in Imtiaz Ali's Highway.

The astute filmmaker goes as far as to compare Alia in Imtiaz Ali's film to Shabana Azmi's landmark performance in his own film Arth.

Says the Bhatt, `I saw Alia in Highway.Alia overwhelms you with her heartbreaking sincerity. Her journey has begun. This is Alia's Arth.Highway is a film that will sparkle in Alia's filmography.`

Alia's mother the talented actress-filmmaker Soni Razdan is now all set to direct Alia in a film based on the notorious Nanavati murder case Nanavati murder case that shook Mumbai's beau monde way back in 1959.To be produced by Pooja Bhatt, the original plan was to cast her opposite Randeep Hooda. But with Imtiaz Ali already having cast Hooda and Alia in Highway, a hunt is on for another leading man to be paired with Alia.


Interestingly while conversing with Karan Johar on the latter's talk-show Mahesh Bhatt had described Imtiaz Ali's Rockstar as the most overrated film . Bhatt seems to have liked Ali's Highway a lot more.

Says Bhatt, `It is an outstanding film.Imtiaz Ali staggers you with his simplicity .It is bare harsh and truthful.`