Newcomer ALIA BHATT traversed many of India's biggest highways across Himachal, Punjab and Rajasthan while shooting for Imtiaz Ali's Highway. She tells Dinesh Raheja about gulping down atta soup, climbing a tree, getting hugged by locals and rediscovering India

When a film is titled Highway, you know travel is on the cards. We shot all over India, from Delhi to Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and even Rajasthan. The only time I have travelled within India earlier was during a school trip, and this shoot rekindled those memories.


Soni Razdan on the sets of Highway in Jaipur to celebrate her daughter, Alia's birthday

Roughing it out
Our stay in Himachal was cosy. I was more than excited about travelling by bus. I would run inside the bus to grab a seat near the window.


Alia Bhatt travelling in a bus from Jaipur to Bikaner

Country roads
We shot in several locations in Himachal such as Rampur, Kalpa, Reckong Peo, Powari, and Nako, and around Tabo and Kaza in the Spiti Valley. When we were shooting in Kaza, I saw a group of women sitting in a row.

I was speaking to my father at that time and he told me to click pictures with these women and send it to him. I ran to them and clicked several pictures. They were so beautifully dressed.


Imtiaz Ali enjoys a simple meal cooked by the locals in Dayalpur, Haryana

Food paradise
Unfortunately, I am perpetually on a diet so I kept away from the dal makhani and tandoori rotis, but the unit freaked out. At a roadside dhaba at Tabo in the Spiti Valley, we had a traditional soup that they made with vegetables and a little ball of atta in it - it was so good I ended up having three bowls.


Alia with Aki Narula on the sets on Highway in Delhi

Hugs all the way
The people in Himachal are very warm and always smiling. They hug you, put a cap on your head, take pictures with you, and make you feel like they know you. Wherever we went, the hospitality remained the same.

Eager to hit 'Highway' set, again

One-film-old Alia Bhatt is enjoying shooting for Imtiaz Ali's "Highway" so much that she can't wait to resume shooting for the movie.

"We are travelling a lot. It's a journey. I am having a great time. I can't wait to go back and shoot more. Working with Imtiaz keeps getting better," she told.

Alia is paired with Randeep Hooda in "Highway", about two people and their road trip.

The actress, who debuted last year with "Student Of The Year", will also be seen in "2 States" and likes the fact that both the films challenge her as an actress.


"Everyone loves looking for change and challenges. I am so grateful to work on these two films. I am very excited. I could not have asked for anything better," she said.

Alia is playing a south Indian girl in "2 States", based on Chetan Bhagat's book "2 States - The Story of My Marriage", and she will be seen opposite Arjun Kapoor in the film.

"I did have to learn little Tamil to get the nuances of the language," she said.

A large part of the film has been shot in IIM Ahemdabad.

"IIMA is a beautiful institution and an integral part of the film and I am glad that we go to shoot there. I loved the book, I am so happy that I am a part of it," she said.