Kiara Advani talks about her journey, goals for 2025, and more

There’s something deeply earnest about Kiara Advani. It’s been a few minutes on the call, she is already at ease and lets me peel the layers, one question at a time. With a fair share of diverse roles and compelling performances, the actor has cemented her trajectory over the course of a decade. “Ten years is a long time,” she says, “I have grown both as an actor and a person. I have had my tryst with highs and lows in personal and professional life; collectively it has shaped the person I am today.” 

Advani’s craft has evolved over time, and her choices are reflective of a matured and content state of mind. She has indeed come a long way from MS Dhoni: The Untold Story (2016), OTT film Shershaah (2021), Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 (2022), and Jugjugg Jeeyo (2022). Her last outing Satya Prem Ki Katha (2023) garnered critical acclaim for her nuanced performance. “It’s been an interesting journey and I’ve been blessed to be a part of some career defining films in Indian cinema,” she adds. Certain characters have changed her outlook in several ways and been instrumental in making her the actor that she is today. But things are only getting started for her.

It’s Advani’s heightened self-awareness that draws me in—I couldn’t help but mention how she has always held her own and often caught my attention in ‘serious’ scenes from her otherwise commercial hits. “Thanks, I am so glad you said that,” she smiles, “every actor wants to ensure that they’re not put into a box. You want to be as versatile, free, uninhibited, and as malleable as possible. I flow like water and that’s a compliment I have received from the people I’ve worked with as well the audience. I don’t take it for granted and keep at it because as an actor, that’s my biggest high. To be able to convince you that I can be as much a wild child as a demure girl or whatever the character demands is what gets me going. It’s my job to make you believe in it and to have that conviction. So, it’s probably the most rewarding factor.” Advani goes on to tell me about an upcoming film that she is working on, which she believes is her most challenging yet fulfilling character till date. The hunger to dabble into diverse genres, personalities, and characters, is what keeps her going. She would love to do a period film some day, she tells me. 

Advani didn’t start on an instant high. The initial phase of struggle or lack of hits kept her grounded. It was in 2019 that she became a household name with Kabir Singh. “To be honest, I didn’t know how to take that in because it was all very new to me. I was already a working actor who had done a reasonable number of films but had not seen this side of fame or success. So when it came my way, I was overwhelmed. In fact, for me, every time I’ve witnessed success or received accolades come my way, it has further humbled me. Now I don’t know if it’s because I’d been through the lows early on to understand this or if it’s the support of my loved ones who normalise things for me.”

The year 2025 is instrumental for her—she is all set to start big in January with her Pan-India cinematic debut in the highly anticipated film Game Changer directed by S Shankar, alongside actor Ram Charan. “We’ve been shooting this film for about three years now and I can’t wait for the audience to see it. I have had the opportunity to work with an amazing team including Ram, Shankar sir, and Thaman (music director)—they are such fine technicians and I was like a child on the set. I feel I’ve grown up in this process, as in these three years there have been multiple other films that I’ve worked on and got married as well,” she smiles. 

Advani points out that there is a steady amalgamation of technicians from the north and south. Viewership has evolved as well with OTT bridging the gap and refreshingly, language isn’t a barrier anymore. It’s an exciting time to be an actor, she tells me. Drawing parallels about diversity in cinema, she reminisces about her prestigious Cannes Film Festival debut earlier this year, where she represented India at the Red Sea Film Foundation’s Women in Cinema Gala. “It was a beautiful night and I met incredible women across borders, cultures, and age groups. It feels surreal to think about the journey and contributions of Indian women in cinema. I have had the good fortune of working with immensely talented women—from DOPs, directors, to ADs and costume departments. When you tell a story from a female gaze or when you have that female energy on set, I think the film turns out differently as well. There’s a lot more progression in the way a story is told,” she explains.

As Advani holds authenticity to the highest regard, it intercepts all facets of her life—be it her craft, general outlook or relationship with fashion. She always took an interest in dressing up, putting looks together or shopping. “I’m a very ‘girly’ girl. This came to me naturally, irrespective of the profession that I was getting into. Now, with access to so many designers and people, dressing up for events, awards, and social media is fun. But with the whole paparazzi culture in the picture, everything is supposed to be a fashion moment. I have gradually realized in my 30s that sometimes comfort is everything. If there’s a shoot at 4 am, I’m going to be wearing my track pants.” She works closely with her stylist, loves to mix and match outfits, and finds it ‘cool’ to repeat clothes.

While someone like me is of the opinion that work and life is all-consuming for a creative individual, Advani brings a fresh perspective in the mix of things. “I believe a lot in energy. I feel as individuals, all of us exude unique energies and when we interact with each other, we’re always feeding on each other’s energies. So when you’re around certain people, you probably either feel happier or a little low. And when you’re working in an environment, no matter what your job is, and you’re constantly around a lot of people, you’re taking in a lot of mixed energies. Like for me, if I’m on a film set, I have a team of hair and make-up, director, co-actors, and we’re all clocked in for 12 hours or more. In order for me to be at my optimum best, I need to have some semblance of balance when I walk into the set.” Simple practices are of essence for Advani. For instance, waking up in the morning, meditating, going to the gym, or throwing in some form of physical activity. Work-life balance is important for her productivity. And the best way to recharge is by spending time with herself or with her loved ones. It helps her to come back stronger each time.

While we all live in our little bubbles, the actor can’t stress enough the significance of hitting the pause button every now and then, to meet new people, cherish friendships, and to cut some slack. “I look forward to catching up with my school friends who aren’t actors. It’s refreshing to have conversations about other things and you realise that there’s so much more to life. It also works in my favour as being an actor I need to be observant of my surroundings. The more I see other people and learn from them, the better I am able to mould into certain characters.

While she has a riveting lineup of projects in 2025, including War 2 with Hrithik Roshan and Don 3 alongside Ranveer Singh, this year has been one of learnings for Advani. “Don’t let unrealistic expectations set you back, always enjoy the process and the journey. It has been one of the most interesting takeaways from this year. I’m going to keep my energy focused on the journey as the outcome is not in my control. I don’t want to leave any stone unturned when it comes to giving my best shot. If I feel like I could do better then that’s something I will continue to work on and will be open to constructive criticisms,” she concludes.

Editor: Rasna Bhasin (@rasnabhasin)

Digital Editor: Sonal Ved (@sonalved)

Creative Director and Stylist: Anaita Shroff Adajania (@anaitashroffadajania)

Photographer: Luis Monteiro (@luismonteirophotography)

Interview: Shivpriya Bajpai (@dunk_in_junk)

Cover Design: Mandeep Khokar (@mandy_khokhar19)

Editorial Coordinator: Shalini Kanojia (@shalinikanojia)

Make-up Artist: Sandhya Shekar (@sandhyashekar)

Hair Artist: Florian Hurel (@florianhurel)

Style Assistant: Neona Sanjay Bahri (@neonasanjaybahri) 

Location Courtesy: The Great Eastern Home (@thegreateasternhome)

Artist Publicist: Idhyadh Media (@idhyahmedia)

Kiara is wearing a Shearling coat from F/W ’24 collection, Michael Kors (@michaelkors; Jewellery, necklaces, Tiffany & Co. (@tiffanyandco) and Quod (@quodbyikshitpande); ring, Ishhaara (@isharya)

Also read: Aditya Roy Kapur on 15 years in film, finding balance, and embracing versatility

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