Alia Bhatt-backed ‘Don’t Be Shy’ begins streaming

Alia Bhatt is backing a new Hindi coming-of-age drama, Don’t Be Shy, which explores college friendships, first love, heartbreak and the challenges of growing up.

Written and directed by Sreeti Mukerji, the film is produced by Alia Bhatt and Shaheen Bhatt. It stars Aarushi Bajaj, Piyush Khati, Bianca Arora and Ansh Duggal in the lead roles.

The film started streaming on Amazon Prime Video on September 25. Bhatt marked its release on social media, highlighting the young cast and director behind the project.

The story follows 20-year-old Shyamili “Shy” Das, played by Bajaj. Shy begins college believing she has already planned her future. However, her expectations soon change as she experiences romance, friendship, heartbreak and unexpected challenges.

Piyush Khati plays Mayank, while Bianca Arora and Ansh Duggal portray Tara and Dhruv. Together, the four characters form the core of the film as their college experiences become increasingly complicated.

The movie follows several familiar elements of the campus romance genre, including young love, friendship troubles, family relationships and personal growth. International reviews have compared its tone and themes with other popular coming-of-age stories while also noting its reliance on established campus-drama conventions.

The film features relatively new performers instead of depending on major Bollywood stars. The young cast has been given the opportunity to lead the story and establish themselves through its central relationships.

For Bhatt, the project also adds to her growing work as a producer and her efforts to support emerging actors and filmmakers. Mukerji, meanwhile, brings a Hindi perspective to the internationally familiar college romance genre.

The film presents college life as a colourful setting for its characters to navigate relationships, identity and the uncertainty of becoming adults.

Meanwhile, Bhatt is also preparing for her next major screen appearance in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love & War. The romantic drama stars her alongside Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal.

The film’s first look has already generated attention, with Bhatt appearing in a glamorous, retro-inspired avatar.

Don’t Be Shy is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video, while Love & War is scheduled for release on January 21, 2027.