This seems to be the star's answer to questions about the way she has portrayed a Bihari girl in her upcoming film, 'Udta Punjab'. After the trailer was launched over the weekend, a Bihari girl sent her an open letter about how her character stereotyped Biharis.
Hmmmmmmm :) pic.twitter.com/pWbSOkNGWm
— Alia Bhatt (@aliaa08) April 20, 2016
The letter, which went viral on the net, states that her treatment of the character is nothing, but a concoction of stereotypes. The actress has said that she has spoken in Bihari but the letter writer points out that people in Bihar converse in Maithili, Bhojpuri, Maghai or Angika.
They don't speak in 'Bihari'; people are referred to as Biharis, and not their language. The letter also points out that 'Ee', 'Ka', 'Kon', is not the 'Bihari' language either. It's just lazy stereotyping, something Bollywood has always excelled at. Alia's Bihari look of soiled, tattered clothes, grimy skin and messed up hair was also criticised as they showed Biharis as poor and in bad light.