Mumbai, April 6: Alia Bhatt’s debut as a host at the Screen Awards 2026 in Mumbai has sparked significant conversation across social media platforms, with many viewers expressing dissatisfaction with her performance. Sharing the stage with comedian Zakir Khan and actor Sunil Grover, the National Award-winning actress faced a wave of unfavorable reviews as clips of the event circulated online on Sunday.
The digital response suggested a disconnect between the stage and the star-studded audience. Commentators noted that the jokes often failed to resonate, pointing to the lack of laughter from the attendees as evidence of a struggling performance. One social media user stated, “Flat face reactions by guests,” while another maintained that the actress did not appear confident in the role.
Criticism centered largely on the delivery and timing of the scripted segments. “Second hand embarrassment sooo hard,” one viewer affirmed, while others declared the performance “boring” or “cringe.” Some spectators even compared her style to past hosts, with one user asserting that she appeared to be mimicking Priyanka Chopra’s previous anchoring work without the same level of professional execution.
Despite the negative feedback regarding the hosting, the awards ceremony celebrated significant cinematic achievements. Aditya Dhar’s spy thriller Dhurandhar dominated the evening by securing 14 trophies, including a Best Actor win for Ranveer Singh. Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound earned the Best Film title. Bhatt is currently preparing for the release of her upcoming spy thriller Alpha and her second project with Sanjay Leela Bhansali, titled Love and War.
