Alia Bhatt’s Hosting at Screen Awards 2026 Gets Brutal Online Verdict: ‘Cringe’, ‘Flat’, ‘Overacting’

Actor Alia Bhatt took on hosting duties at the Screen Awards 2026 in Mumbai on Sunday, sharing the stage with comedian Zakir Khan and actor Sunil Grover. However, several clips from the ceremony that surfaced online have triggered a wave of mixed reactions, with a section of social media users expressing disappointment over her performance as host.

Many viewers described her hosting stint as underwhelming, pointing to what they felt was a lack of comic timing and stage presence. Several comments suggested that some jokes did not land, with audience reactions in viral videos appearing muted.

Criticism ranged from viewers calling the performance “overacting” and “cringe” to others noting that she appeared “nervous” and “not confident” on stage. Some users also compared her hosting style with that of Priyanka Chopra, who has previously anchored award shows alongside Shah Rukh Khan.

At the same time, a section of users offered a more balanced view, acknowledging that hosting — especially comedy — is a demanding craft. Some comments suggested that while Bhatt is a strong performer on screen, anchoring may not align with her strengths.

The clips circulating online show Bhatt referencing filmmakers like Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Mohit Suri and Aditya Dhar during her segments, though parts of the act appeared to receive limited audience response.

Meanwhile, at the ceremony, Dhurandhar emerged as the biggest winner, taking home multiple awards, including Best Actor for Ranveer Singh. Akshaye Khanna also won in a supporting role category, while Homebound, directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, was named Best Film.

Looking ahead, Alia Bhatt will next be seen in Love and War, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and co-starring Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal. She also has the spy thriller Alpha in the pipeline.