If you are fit and healthy, there is no need to take rest, says Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt who hopes to work till she is 100.

From marrying longtime partner and Brahmastra co-star Ranbir Kapoor, starring in blockbuster films Gangubai Kathiawadi and RRR, expecting her first child, shooting for her Hollywood debut Heart of Stone and gearing up for the release of her production debut Darlings, it has been a busy year for Alia.

Asked if she ever felt the need to take a break, the 29-year-old said she would continue to work till the time her health permits.

“If you are fit and healthy, there is no need to take rest. Working gives me peace, it's my passion. It keeps my heart, mind, soul, everything alive and charged. So, I will work till I am 100,” she told reporters at the launch of ‘La Ilaaj’, a song from Darlings, in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Alia, who is making her production debut with the film through Eternal Sunshine Productions, said she is first an actor on set.

“It's not that my acting process needs to change because I am the producer. The real producer in me woke up much later. I was always an actor. I've felt protective about my films before, now I feel even more protective towards Darlings,” she added.

Darlings explores the lives of a mother-daughter duo (played by Alia and Shefali Shah) trying to find their place in the city, “seeking courage and love in exceptional circumstances while fighting against all odds”. Directed by debutante Jasmeet K. Reen, the movie also stars Vijay Varma and Roshan Mathew.

The film presents a mother-daughter dynamic like never before, said Alia.

“In my opinion, what's really beautiful is their relationship, how honest and rare this type of dynamic is. Mother is suggesting some odd things, sometimes the daughter is mothering the mother. It's sort of vice versa,” she said.

With OTT, there is a lot of scope for writers to not worry about the day one box office numbers, Alia added. Darlings is slated to arrive on Netflix this Friday.

Makers simply need to focus on creating good characters, female or male, it doesn't matter, the actress, who made her debut with Karan Johar’s Student of the Year in 2012, said.

“At the end of the day, the endeavour is to make a good film that touches the heart. Whether it releases on OTT or in the theatre, it really doesn't matter,” she added.

Citing the example of Vishal Bhardwaj, who has composed ‘La Ilaaj’, Alia said women have always been “the driving force” in his films.

“It's not really about gender. Woman, man... Just write good characters, stories first, we'll look at the gender later,” she said.

She also addressed the social media meme-fest around ‘Kesariya’, the song from Brahmastra.

“The song is number one, so why should I complain?” she said.

Alia, who recently shot for Heart of Stone in the UK, said working on the Netflix movie was a lovely experience.

“I was nervous because it was all new. It was also my first action film, but they took great care of me and made me feel at home. I learnt a lot. At the same time, I felt it was not all that different from what we do here. It's just that the language was different… Gal Gadot is such an icon, inspiration. The way she does action, she is also a producer on that film. So, we had a lot to talk about. She was possibly the most beautiful energy that I've ever come across,” the actress, who completes a decade in films this year, said.

Shefali Shah, who accompanied Alia on Tuesday, said she was sold on the script of Darlings, penned by Reen and Parveez Sheikh.

“There was no way I could say no (to the film). It's a terrific script. It was really very simple and quick,” she added.

Alia and Shefali’s co-star in the film, Vijay Varma said he sought the director's inputs while preparing for the role of an alcoholic and abusive husband.

“There are a lot of broken people around. Jasmeet and I spoke at length about it, the script is complete in itself. If the actor has a decent imagination, he can create a universe out of it. The tough part is to play it out and for that you require building of trust, respect and comfort with the crew members. Alia and I have that regard with each other,” he said.

According to Vijay, it was important for writers to address important social issues in a “responsible” manner.

“Sometimes everything needs to be represented on screen for people to see that it exists. No one will come to know about it if we don't talk about it. It's important to talk (about issues),” said the Mirzapur 2 actor.