What Alia asked Ranbir when they first met | The Express Tribune

At the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Ranbir Kapoor shared an anecdote about his wife, actor Alia Bhatt, that has since ignited debate online. While discussing Bollywood's cinematic legacy during a session led by filMMAker Rahul Rawail, Ranbir recounted a surprising moment from his early days with Alia.

Talking about their first meeting, the Animal actor revealed, "The first time I met Alia, she asked me, 'Who's Kishore Kumar?'" The remark left the audience at IFFI visibly stunned, with one attendee exclaiming in disbelief, "Are you serious?" Ranbir nodded and elaborated, "So, you know, it's just the circle of life. People have forgotten, and new artists have come. I think it's very important that we remember our roots."

The revelation sparked immediate backlash online, with fans questioning how Alia could be unfamiliar with such a towering figure in Bollywood History. One user commented, "Not knowing Kishore Kumar is worse. He is literally the biggest male singer in Bollywood History and has had a lasting legacy." Another expressed incredulity, saying, "I think this is worse than not knowing the President." Some also criticised Ranbir for repeatedly sharing personal anecdotes that cast Alia in an uNFLattering light, with one remarking, "Why does he keep embarrassing his wife publicly?"

In the Jigra actor's defence, the first time she met her now-husband – she was very young. "The first time I met Alia was when she was nine years old, and I was 20 years old and we did a photoshoot together because Sanjay Leela Bhansali wanted to make a film called Balika Vadhu about child marriage," said Ranbir.

It is unclear whether Alia questioned Ranbir during this very first meeting, or their first meeting years later, when Alia was an adult. If the former, it is understandable that a nine-year-old would not know who the legendary singer is. Also very much aware about their age gap when they initially met, the actor commented that it was "weird".

This is not the first time Alia has faced criticism over her general knowledge. During her debut on Koffee With Karan in 2013, she famously misidentified Dr Pranab Mukherjee as Prithviraj Chauhan, sparking a wave of memes about her intellect.

Ranbir, too, has courted controversy in the past. In a Vogue interview, Alia revealed that she often wipes off her lipstick because Ranbir "doesn't like it." While Alia portrayed this as a sweet detail about their relationship, many viewed it as troubling, with online users branding Ranbir a "red flag."