Criticism can be harsh, especially when it comes after a live performance. Alia Bhatt recently found herself at the center of online trolling for her hosting at an awards show but singer Sona Mohapatra has stepped in to support her.

In a video shared on Instagram, Sona Mohapatra addressed the backlash and reminded people of one key fact – live performances are not easy. She emphasised that there are no second chances on stage, making such performances much more challenging than they appear.

“I’m weighing in on the Alia Bhatt Screen Awards monologue, which has been all over the place and being trolled. First things first, guys, it was live. Live means no retake, no edit, no filter, no rethink. And honestly, doing such authentic work in Bollywood is a big stunt. Most desi actors won’t even pick up that mic. She gave it a shot and that itself is amazing,” Sona Mohapatra said.

Sona also highlighted another important factor – the audience. According to her, a live performance depends not just on the performer but also on how the audience responds. She described Bollywood audiences as difficult and often unresponsive, recalling her own experiences performing in such environments.

“It is brave. Secondly, let’s talk about the audience. Performance is not only on stage when it’s live. The audience and the room in front of you also have to perform. It’s their duty. And the Bollywood room, they are dead on arrival. I know I’ve performed in these rooms many times I can give you the example of the Mijwan fashion show to illustrate. Shabana Azmi ji does it to raise funds for the Mijwan weavers. And it is full of stars, designer outfits, flashbulbs. Even when they’re around for a good cause, they’re like dead. Their vibes there will be, ‘My outfit is better than hers’, ‘Which important actor, director’s eye can I catch?’ And oh my God, it’s a tough, tough audience,” the singer added.

She also responded to comparisons between Alia and her co-host Zakir Khan, pointing out that he is a professional stand-up comedian with a different skill set.

“He’s an ustad of stand-up. Try getting him to act or dance like Alia, you’ll get your answer. Or importantly, he was facing a Bollywood audience, not their direct competition. So they would have been even kinder to him,” she said.

Sona Mohapatra ended her message with a simple suggestion for the industry, to loosen up, laugh a little and learn to enjoy the moment. “It won’t k*ll you,” she said.

Here is the video: