Not too long ago, Pratibha Ranta would look in awe at Alia Bhatt’s performances on the big screen. Today, her performance in Laapataa Ladies has scored her a nomination alongside Bhatt in the Best Actor category at the upcoming Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. “Alia, Jyotika [for Kaathal—The Core, 2023] and Parvathy [for Ullozhukku] have inspired me with the kind of roles they’ve done and continue to do. To be nominated alongside them is a dream come true,” she says.