On September 24, 2026, the Mumbai premiere of Alia Bhatt’s first production, "Don't Be Shy", drew a crowd that included fans, press and a handful of paparazzi. The film, a light‑hearted rom‑com, was already a hot ticket thanks to Alia’s star power and a pre‑sale deal that cleared ₹200 crore before the first day of release.
When the lights dimmed, Alia and Samay Raina made their way to the red carpet. The two shared a quick hug that had fans snapping photos, but it was a paparazzo’s off‑hand comment—"Samay bhai, Alpha hit thi"—that stole the show. Samay’s face went blank for a beat before he smirked, replying, "Question ko aise ignore kiya jaise suna hi nahi," while the crowd chuckled.
Their chemistry isn’t new. A few months earlier, Alia had been a panelist on Samay’s reality show, "India’s Got Latent Season 2", promoting her July release "Alpha". The show, now streaming on Netflix, saw Samay tease Alia’s film in a playful clip that left the audience in stitches. The banter from that episode set the stage for the light‑hearted moment at the premiere.
The clip of the hug and the jab spread like wildfire on Twitter, where users shared memes and retweets. A tweet from Yash Negi captured the vibe: "Bro said — no comments, only hugs." Fans flooded the hashtag #ABDSScreening, turning the event into a trending topic that even the film’s PR team had to scramble to respond to.
"Don't Be Shy" is Alia’s first foray into production, and the buzz surrounding her on‑screen presence and off‑screen camaraderie is a testament to her brand’s staying power. With the film already available on streaming platforms after its theatrical run, the buzz from the premiere could be the catalyst that keeps the movie in conversations well beyond its release window.