The "Namaste" Trap: Why the 2026 BAFTAs Still Smell Like Brown Baiting

London is freezing, but the PR machines at the Royal Festival Hall were running white-hot last night. As the 79th BAFTA Film Awards wrapped up, the Indian internet exploded. Why? Because Alia Bhatt was there in silver Gucci, and Farhan Akhtar was on the carpet celebrating a win.

On the surface, it looks like a banner year for India. But if you look closer at the 2026 guest list, the whole thing feels less like "global recognition" and more like a cynical numbers game. Welcome to the era of the Brown Bait.

The Alia Bhatt Strategy: Reach vs. Recognition

Alia Bhatt didn’t just attend; she was a headlining presenter. She was paired with the likes of Cillian Murphy and Kate Hudson, a move designed to set social media alight.

But let’s be real: Alia wasn’t there to collect a trophy for Jigra or Alpha. She was there because she has 85 million Instagram followers and the British Academy knows exactly how many "impressions" an Indian superstar brings to a stagnant Western broadcast.

• The Bait: Tease Alia’s appearance for weeks to get Indian viewers to stay up until 1:00 AM IST.

• The Reality: She presented "Best Film Not in the English Language"—the standard "box" for foreign talent—while the "major" categories remain a largely closed loop for Western stars.

  
  

The Farhan Akhtar Paradox

Then there was Farhan Akhtar. He walked the carpet with Shibani Dandekar, ostensibly to celebrate their fourth wedding anniversary, but really to support the Manipuri film Boong.

The film, backed by Farhan’s Excel Entertainment, actually won Best Children’s and Family Film. It’s a massive achievement for regional Indian cinema, specifically for the Northeast. Yet, in the BAFTA marketing machine, this historic win was almost secondary to the "glamour" of Farhan and Alia’s presence.

The Alt Bollywood Take: Why is it that a masterpiece like Boong needs a Bollywood titan like Farhan Akhtar as its "ambassador" to get the British Academy to look its way? The industry still treats our films like they need a chaperone to enter the room.

The Viral Script

Alia’s "Namaskar" and her red-carpet quotes about her daughter, Raha, were perfectly curated for the Indian algorithm. It’s a win-win: BAFTA gets the traffic, and the stars get the "Global Icon" branding.

But for those of us at Alt Bollywood, it’s starting to feel like a recurring script. Every year, a new Bollywood deity is summoned to London or LA to play the role of the "bridge." Priyanka in ’21, Deepika in ’24, and now the Alia-Farhan duo in ’26.

The Bottom Line

The BAFTAs don't want our stories as much as they want our subscribers. They’ve realized that if they invite our "A-List," the Indian audience will tune in to see if we finally "belong."

The win for Boong is the only real meat on the bone. The rest? It’s just silver sequins and sophisticated bait. We aren’t "breaking through" the glass ceiling; we’re just being invited to the party to help pay for the decorations. Q: Did Alia Bhatt win a BAFTA in 2026? A: No, Alia Bhatt was a presenter at the ceremony, not a nominee. While the headlines scream about her presence, she was there to lend star power to the "Best Film Not in the English Language" category.

Q: What movie did Farhan Akhtar win for at the BAFTAs? A: Farhan Akhtar’s Excel Entertainment backed Boong, which won Best Children’s and Family Film. It’s a massive win for regional storytelling, even if the paparazzi focused more on his red-carpet suit.

Q: Why was Alia Bhatt at the BAFTAs instead of other Indian actors? A: Alia Bhatt currently holds the strongest "Global Ambassador" portfolio with brands like Gucci. Her inclusion is a strategic bridge between Bollywood's massive fan base and the BAFTAs' need for international relevance.

Q: Is Boong the first Indian film to win a BAFTA? A: No, but it is a rare win for a regional, North-eastern Indian film on such a massive stage. It proves that the "content is king" mantra works, even if the PR machine prefers the "star power" narrative.