Mahesh Bhatt reveals Alia’s Berlin connection

February 12, 2014 - 11:20 AM IST

Last month, we heard that the upcoming Imtiaz Ali film Highway, featuring Alia Bhatt and Randeep Hooda, was selected to feature at the Berlin International Film Festival. While Imtiaz was pretty surprised about the selection, Alia's father, Mahesh Bhatt decided to let out a little bit of history on Alia's connection with Berlin. "Alia Bhatt has a unique connection with Berlin it's just incredible that her film Highway is premiering in Berlin", tweeted Bhatt.

Further talking about Alia's maternal ancestry, Bhatt tweeted, "Many years ago, in 1929 in fact, Alia's grandmother was born in Berlin. Yes, she's German. Sadly she had to leave Berlin in 1937. Alia's great grandfather was running an underground newspaper against Hitler. He was found out and imprisoned for two years. So Alia's grandmother & her mother walked across the border to Czechoslovakia and found sanctuary from persecution as refugees in England!"

Mahesh Bhatt reveals Alia’s Berlin connection

"The spirit of rebellion which is embedded in Highway is a part of Alia's legacy. It comes from her great grandfather. Karl Hoelzer, Alia's great grandfather dared to take on the Nazi regime in his own small way and paid a very heavy price for it. All art and all cinema of rebellion is intended to ignite rage against the oppressor. I'm certain Imtiaz Ali's Highway will do that!! But little did Alia's grandma Gertrude know that her tragic story would have a happy ending", added Bhatt on a closing note.

Highway that is produced by Sajid Nadiadwala and Imtiaz features music by A. R. Rahman and is slated for release this Feb.