Kiara Advani

Kiara Advani, born Alia Advani on July 31, 1991, is a powerhouse Indian actress who has taken the entertainment industry by storm with her captivating performances in Hindi films. As one of the highest-paid actresses in India, she has garnered numerous accolades, including an IIFA Award and two Zee Cine Awards, with two Filmfare Award nominations to her name. Before making her mark on the silver screen, Advani dabbled in teaching, but it was acting that ultimately stole her heart. She made her debut with the 2014 comedy film Fugly, which, despite being a commercial disappointment, earned her a Screen Award nomination for Best Female Debut. Her breakthrough role came in 2016 with the sports biopic M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story, where she played the wife of cricketer MS Dhoni, and the film's massive success catapulted her to stardom. Advani's impressive performances in films like Lust Stories, Bharat Ane Nenu, and Kabir Singh cemented her position as a leading lady in Bollywood, while her critically acclaimed roles in Shershaah and Satyaprem Ki Katha earned her Filmfare Award nominations for Best Actress. With a string of blockbuster hits, including Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 and Jugjugg Jeeyo, Advani has solidified her status as a bankable star, and her marriage to actor Sidharth Malhotra and their adorable daughter, Saraayah, make her a beloved figure in the entertainment industry. Kiara Advani's star continued to rise in 2019 with her standout performance in Sandeep Reddy Vanga's romantic drama Kabir Singh, alongside Shahid Kapoor, which raked in over ₹378 crore worldwide, making it her highest-grossing release to date, although critics slammed the film for its misogynistic and toxic masculine undertones, with Rajeev Masand lamenting that her passive character offered her little to work with. She then shone in the comedy Good Newwz, alongside Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor Khan, and Diljit Dosanjh, about two couples navigating in vitro fertilization, earning her the IIFA Award for Best Supporting Actress, with Namrata Joshi praising her and Dosanjh for bringing an infectious cheer to their boisterous, kitschy Punjabi stereotypes. Both films grossed over ₹200 crores domestically, ranking among the year's top-grossing hits. In 2020, Advani took on a troubled college student in Johar's production Guilty, a Netflix film about sexual assault, earning a nomination for Best Actress in a Web Original Film at the Filmfare OTT Awards, with Rohan Nahaar of Hindustan Times commending her "absolutely electric performance" as the unreliable Nanki. She then played the wife of Akshay Kumar's character in Raghava Lawrence's horror comedy Laxmii, which was released digitally on Disney+ Hotstar due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and despite negative reviews, it drew a strong viewership on the platform. Her subsequent releases, Indoo Ki Jawani and Shershaah, showcased her range, with Anna M. M. Vetticad of Firstpost noting that she "sparkles" in her brief role as Dimple Cheema, Batra's girlfriend, earning her a Filmfare Award nomination. In 2022, Advani appeared in the comedy horror film Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, alongside Tabu and Kartik Aaryan, which emerged as one of her most commercially successful films, with worldwide earnings of over ₹2.6 billion. She continued to impress with her performances in Jugjugg Jeeyo, Govinda Naam Mera, and Satyaprem Ki Katha, showcasing her growing confidence as an actress, and earning several Best Actress awards and nominations, including her second Filmfare nomination. In 2025, Advani starred in two high-budget action films, Game Changer and War 2, although both films received mixed reviews, with some critics bemoaning the lack of substantial roles for her. Off-screen, Advani tied the knot with actor Sidharth Malhotra in a traditional Hindu ceremony in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, in February 2023, and gave birth to their daughter, Saraayah, on July 15, 2025. Kiara Advani shines bright off-screen, championing social causes with infectious energy. She backed the "Quaker Feed A Child" initiative with Smile Foundation and The Quint's #SpreadTheLight campaign, showcasing her compassionate side. During the COVID-19 crisis, she contributed to the "I Stand With Humanity" campaign, supporting daily wage workers in the film and television industry. Advani's dynamic presence has also lit up stages at prestigious award ceremonies, including Filmfare, Screen, and Zee Cine. Her recent performances at the Women's Premier League opening ceremony alongside Kriti Sanon and AP Dhillon, and the "Entertainer No. 1" tour in Doha with Shahid Kapoor, Varun Dhawan, and Tiger Shroff, have cemented her status as a star. Critics rave about her charming on-screen persona, with Raghuvendra Singh of Filmfare describing her as "charming, vivacious and always full on energy". With a brand value of $60 million, she's an endorser for top brands like Audi, Galaxy Chocolate, and Colgate. Her impressive media presence has earned her a spot in The Times of India's "Most Desirable Woman" list and GQ India's "30 Most Influential Young Indians". As the most searched personality on Google in India and ranking 33rd on IMDb's 100 Most Viewed Indian Stars list, Kiara Advani's star continues to soar.