Alia Bhatt found herself at the center of online trolling after a video from her 2026 Cannes Film Festival red carpet appearance went viral, with many on social media claiming that international media and photographers paid little attention to her. Amid this, Sonu Sood stepped in with a message of kindness and encouragement. Without directly naming Alia, he made it clear that simply standing on a global stage and representing India is an achievement worthy of celebration.
Sonu Sood’s message for trolls
Sonu took to X (formerly Twitter) to show his support amid the trolling around Alia. Without naming her, he shared a strong and clear message. “When one of our own walks onto an international stage, it should be a moment of pride, not a reason to search for flaws. Not every achievement needs validation from cameras, headlines, or strangers to be meaningful. The courage to stand there, represent your craft, and carry your journey with grace is an achievement in itself,” he wrote. He also spoke out against online trolling and urged people to be more supportive of each other. “In a world addicted to trolling, choose encouragement. Because people who are busy building dreams don’t have time to pull others down,” he added. He ended his post with a short and sweet message that many felt was meant for Alia. “Keep shining, my friend. The right people saw your light,” he wrote.
How Alia Bhatt clapped back at a troll after Cannes 2026
Meanwhile, Alia showed everyone how to handle trolls with a cool and clever reply. While social media buzzed with claims that she didn’t get much attention from international paparazzi at Cannes, Alia posted a video on May 13 of herself looking lovely in a custom ivory silk saree-gown. Fans and film industry friends quickly showered the post with love and praise. But one user tried to mock her by commenting, “What a pity, no one noticed you.” Alia didn’t back down. She replied with a witty and confident response, saying, “Why pity, love? You noticed me :)”.
Sonu Sood’s next project after ‘Fateh’
On the professional side, Sonu Sood made his directorial debut with the action thriller ‘Fateh’, in which he also played the lead role. The film boasted an impressive ensemble cast, bringing together Naseeruddin Shah, Jacqueline Fernandez, Vijay Raaz, and Dibyendu Bhattacharya.