Chandni Bhabhda on her Bollywood debut! Says this was my first step, not my final word

Chandni Bhabhda is among the new wave of performers making it to mainstream Hindi cinema. A digital creator with a sense of observation and humour, Bhabhda first captured public attention through her viral mimicry of actor Alia Bhatt. A law graduate by education, Bhabhda recently marked a significant milestone with her big-screen debut in Tu Meri Main Tera, Main Tera Tu Meri, sharing screen space with Kartik Aaryan, Ananya Panday and Jackie Shroff. For the young actor, the moment of landing her first feature film was less celebratory and more contemplative.“Honestly, it took time to sink in,” she says. “I remember sitting with the news and feeling quiet more than loud excitement. It wasn’t instant celebration but disbelief mixed with gratitude. Somewhere inside, I kept thinking, ‘Okay, this is actually happening now.’ It felt like a pause moment in life.”Stepping onto a film set for the first time brought its own anxieties. Coming from a non-traditional background, Bhabhda admits she questioned whether she would fit in. “My biggest fear was whether I would belong there. Whether I would look out of place or mess up because I didn’t come from a traditional film background. But once the work began, those fears slowly dissolved. I realised everyone is nervous, debut or not,” she said.Observing her co-stars closely became an informal learning process. “Kartik is constantly switched on, there’s so much focus and preparation behind the scenes.” Ananya Panday, she notes, surprised her in a different way. “She’s relaxed yet attentive. Both taught me that being present is half the job. You don’t have to overthink everything, you just have to show up honestly. Kartik would often come up after scenes and say things like, ‘Yeh scene achha gaya,’ or suggest small tweaks. That meant a lot. With Ananya, it was her ease, the way she made space for me without making me feel like a newcomer.”While the film did not perform as expected at the box office, Bhabhda reflects on the experience with maturity. “It was difficult, of course. But I reminded myself that this was my first step, not my final word,” she says. “I allowed myself to feel disappointed, but I didn’t let it define me. It taught me early on that outcomes are unpredictable—effort is the only thing you control. It made me more grateful. I realised that I want to build something long-term, not chase instant validation. It is a beautiful film and I am more than grateful to be a part of it.”Bhabhda’s rise began online, where her mimicry, especially of Alia Bhatt, struck a chord with young audiences. “Not at all,” she says when asked if she expected that kind of response. “I never imagined it would travel the way it did. I was just doing what felt natural to me.” Performing the mimicry in front of Bhatt herself was surprisingly comfortable. “She was very chill about it. That ease made me feel instantly comfortable.”Still, she acknowledges that being known for mimicry can sometimes lead to being underestimated. “Yes, sometimes. Mimicry can get boxed as ‘just comedy,’” she says. “But I believe the best way to break perception is through work. You don’t argue, you show up, perform, and let people reassess on their own.”Looking ahead, Chandni Bhabhda is clear about the kind of career she wants to build, one that straddles both digital and cinematic spaces without compromising on authenticity. “I want to explore characters that feel real and layered,” she says. “I don’t want to choose between digital and films—both have shaped me. Right now, I am open, curious, and excited to grow, one honest role at a time.”