Alia Bhatt honoured by Nat Geo for animal welfare; netizens call out her Gucci outfits, say ‘unfollow Nat Geo’

Alia Bhatt is the reigning queen of Bollywood. From being the international ambassador for Gucci to walking the ramp at the Met Gala and Paris Fashion Week, Alia Bhatt has paved a way for herself not just in India but also globally.

Apart from winning a National Award for Gangubai Kathiawadi, the actor is an animal lover, a doting mom to Raha, and a pet parent to her cat Edward, which was gifted to her by her ex-boyfriend Sidharth Malhotra.

Alia often advocates her love for animals and frequently shares how much she cares for them. Taking to social media, Alia Bhatt has always expressed her fondness for animals. She also supports and is an active participant in Anant Ambani’s ultra-luxurious Vantara.

Alia’s personal and professional achievements have added yet another feather to her cap. Nat Geo featured Alia Bhatt among the 33 changemakers for her contributions towards animal and environmental welfare. Alia, as well as Priyanka Chopra, have made it to the list.

However, while Alia and Priyanka are undoubtedly global stars and have made India proud, Nat Geo including these two stalwarts hasn’t gone down well with netizens. Priyanka Chopra and Alia Bhatt have both triggered a wave of online criticism.

Many have questioned them for wearing Gucci, Prada, and other luxury brands. In fact, Alia is Gucci’s brand ambassador, and these brands are often associated with leather goods. Most of these products are made from animal skin, and time and again, Alia and Priyanka have been called out for wearing such outfits.

Among them, a user sarcastically wrote in the comment section, “Shining a light on conservation by wearing designer calfskin bags and leather dresses. So cute.”

Another said, “I wouldn’t doubt that Alia is a great actress, but her lifestyle is not friendly towards the environment. Talking about her foundation that highlights and works towards issues of animal and ecological welfare—well, the latest Gucci black leather coat said it all. She has been spotted multiple times wearing and carrying products made out of animals. I mean, how on earth did National Geographic choose her?”

One more commented, “So many women in India have dedicated their lives to conserving forests, seeds, and animals. And @natgeoindia chooses the woman who wears and endorses leather.”

A different user wrote, “Is this NatGeo or Vogue?” Someone else added, “NatGeo, what is wrong with you? Time to unfollow.”

On Reddit, a user said, “This woman. She wants to be in everything.” Another wrote, “Hypocrisy is something all Bollywood celebrities are good at.”

Someone else commented, “She’s as much of a hypocrite as Priyanka Chopra, who complained about Diwali firecrackers polluting the air and then went on to burst firecrackers worth lakhs of rupees at her own wedding.”

Talking to Nat Geo, Alia Bhatt shared how the thought of using her reach for animal and environmental welfare through films, books, and campaigns came to her. She said, “I was in this position where I started to question whether my voice had quality,” adding, “I said, OK, let me go to something that I feel very passionate about. And that is animals.”

Alia Bhatt for Gucci

For the unversed, Alia Bhatt was appointed as the first Indian to represent the luxury fashion house in May 2023. She attended the Gucci Fall/Winter 2026 fashion show during Milan Fashion Week in February.