With Alpha set to release in theatres on Friday, Soni Razdan took a moment to celebrate a different kind of strength. The actor shared a heartwarming family photograph on Instagram featuring four generations of women—her 97-year-old mother Gertrude Hoelzer, daughters Alia Bhatt and Shaheen Bhatt, and granddaughter Raha. More than just a family portrait, the post honoured her mother’s extraordinary life journey and the resilience that has been passed down through generations.
Soni Razdan shares her mother’s incredible journey
Sharing the family picture, Soni introduced her mother as the original Alpha woman and reflected on the extraordinary life she has lived. She wrote, “One OG ALPHA woman and four generations in one frame ! Alia’s Nani who is all of 97 years young. No it’s not her birthday today, but on the eve of her granddaughter’s release she wanted to wish her this way. 🧿♥️🌺.”
She then revealed that her mother was only six years old when her family was forced to flee Nazi Germany. Although they were German and not Jewish, Soni explained that her grandfather openly opposed Adolf Hitler, putting the family in grave danger. “My mother escaped Nazi Germany when she was just 6 years old. Although German and not Jewish, they had to run because my grandfather was a brave man and went openly against Hitler,” she added.
After leaving Germany, the family spent several difficult years in Czechoslovakia before finally escaping to the United Kingdom aboard a Jewish Kindertransport train, one of the rescue operations that helped children flee Nazi-controlled Europe. “After a few years in Czechoslovakia, enduring many a hardship, she and her family landed up in the UK, escaping on a Jewish kinder transport train. The trials she faced were many. Then she met and married NN Razdan and finally started a new life in India,” she further said.
‘All our mothers and grandmothers are Alpha women’
Soni connected her mother’s remarkable life with the idea behind Alia’s upcoming film, saying that strength comes in many forms and often exists in the women closest to us. “Alpha women exist in many different ways. They’re all around us.
But ultimately I think all our mothers and grandmothers are Alpha women. Drop a ♥️ if you agree… Would love to hear about some Alpha women that you know ! Do share them with me,” she concluded her post.
Her heartfelt tribute quickly resonated with fans, who filled the comments section with messages celebrating Gertrude Hoelzer’s inspiring story and the family’s legacy of resilience.
About Alpha
Alpha is set to hit theatres worldwide on Friday, July 3. Directed by Shiv Rawail (The Railway Men) and backed by producer Aditya Chopra, the film marks a first for the YRF Spy Universe as its first female-led action thriller. Alia Bhatt and Sharvari step into the roles of highly skilled agents, while Anil Kapoor plays a senior figure guiding the mission. Bobby Deol takes on the role of the film’s ruthless villain.
The story continues the timeline of the YRF Spy Universe after the events of War 2. Fans can also look forward to a special appearance by Hrithik Roshan, who reprises his role as Kabir in an action-packed cameo.