India, June 23 -- Before the concept of "crowd work" became wildly popular in India, making average speakers call themselves comedians, self-deprecating humour had long been a go-to tool for comics to break the ice with audiences. It helps them level with the crowd while standing on a podium, encouraging people to let their guards down. How else will a room full of adults accept a dangerously witty person who can see through them?

It has been a while since actors began borrowing this handbook from comedians to win over audiences and come across as relatable. Alia Bhatt's recent appearance on Samay Raina's India's Got Latent Season 2 evoked a similar sentiment.

Alia has been a troll-favourite for well over a decade. It all began when she...