In a refreshing twist on celebrity-brand collaborations, Alia Bhatt has joined forces with internet sensation Chandni Bhabhda for a delightfully self-aware campaign promoting L’Oréal Paris’s new Infallible Skin Tint. The campaign, which dropped recently on social media, is already making waves—not just for its smart marketing, but for its unfiltered fun.

Chandni Bhabhda, known for her hilariously accurate impersonations of Alia Bhatt, plays a central role in the ad. Her impressions—right from Alia’s soft-spoken cadence and signature lipstick application move to her iconic, almost musical laugh—have garnered a cult following online. This campaign takes it a notch higher by placing the impersonator next to the original, creating a playful mirror moment that fans didn’t know they needed.

In the video, Chandni is shown earnestly trying out the new skin tint after a glowing recommendation from “Alia”—whom she’s also mimicking in real-time. As she applies the product, she mimics Alia’s gentle voice, tossing in her classic mannerisms with comic precision. She even throws in the familiar laugh that has become a trademark of Alia’s public persona.

Alia, seated beside her, watches with an amused smile that slowly turns into full-blown laughter. It’s a genuine moment—one that breaks the often-polished veneer of celebrity campaigns. Instead of brushing off the impersonation, Alia leans in, embraces it, and even encourages it, showing a rare level of self-awareness in an industry where image is everything.

The campaign has struck a chord precisely because of this self-awareness. It reflects a growing trend in celebrity culture where public figures are increasingly choosing to own their internet image, laugh at themselves, and engage with fans on a more human level.

This isn’t new territory for Alia. She previously showcased her ability to laugh at herself in the now-iconic ‘Genius of the Year’ sketch by AIB. That viral video was a direct response to the social media trolling she faced after a widely discussed episode of Koffee With Karan, where she incorrectly named the President of India. The sketch cleverly flipped the narrative, with Alia portraying a version of herself who attends a “genius training school” to overcome her perceived lack of general knowledge.

What could have been a career-denting moment turned into a masterclass in media self-management. Alia’s willingness to poke fun at herself endeared her even more to fans and industry insiders alike. Fast-forward to 2025, and that same spirit of self-deprecating humor is alive and well in her new campaign with L’Oréal and Chandni.

Author: Janvi Joshi