Fans of the Kapoor khandaan were left puzzled when the trailer for Netflix’s upcoming special Dining With the Kapoors dropped earlier this week, showing Kareena Kapoor Khan’s husband, Saif Ali Khan, at the family table but no sign of Alia Bhatt, who has been married to Ranbir Kapoor since April 2022 and welcomed daughter Raha the same year. The absence became instant fodder for speculation on social media, with some wondering if it hinted at behind-the-scenes dynamics in Bollywood’s most watched family.

Armaan Jain, Ranbir’s first cousin and the creator-conceiver of the show, has now put all rumours to rest. Speaking to Bollywood Hungama on Wednesday, the son of Rima Jain (Raj Kapoor’s daughter) clarified that Alia was very much invited but couldn’t participate due to prior professional commitments. “She had prior commitments to shoot. I might sound filmy, but like Raj Kapoor sahab always said, ‘work is worship,’” Armaan said, adding that scheduling conflicts are par for the course in a family of workaholics.

Director Smriti Mundhra, who previously helmed the acclaimed docu-series The Romantics for Netflix, echoed the sentiment. “That is the one thing about this family—they are all workaholics, and they all love what they do. There is always an understanding that everyone makes an attempt to gather and prioritise as much as possible, but inevitably there are one or two people who can’t make it because of work—and that’s always allowed,” she told the portal.

Also Read: Arjun Rampal Declines to Speak on Torture Scene as Dhurandhar Trailer Divides Viewers

Dining With the Kapoors promises an unfiltered peek into the legendary clan’s dinner table, featuring Ranbir Kapoor, Kareena and Karisma Kapoor, Neetu Kapoor, Randhir Kapoor, Babita, Aadar Jain, and Armaan himself, along with Saif Ali Khan and several second-generation members. Conceived by Armaan and shot over a single evening at the iconic RK Studios, the special blends nostalgia, candid banter, and home-cooked Punjabi fare.

The show is the latest celebration of the Kapoor legacy, often called Indian cinema’s first family, founded by Prithviraj Kapoor in the 1930s and carried forward by superstars Raj, Shammi, Shashi, Rishi, Randhir, and now Ranbir and Kareena. Netflix has positioned it as a Diwali-weekend treat, with the special set to premiere globally on November 21.

With Alia’s scheduling clash dismissed as routine rather than a rift, fans can now look forward to the Kapoors serving family gossip alongside ghar ka khana when Dining With the Kapoors drops this Friday.

Also Read: Armaan Malik’s Surprise Entry Brings Emotional Reunion with Brother Amaal on Bigg Boss 19