Kiara Advani graces the latest cover of Grazia India in a deeply introspective and self-aware conversation that captures a defining moment in her journey. Known for her instinctive approach to performance, Kiara reflects on her evolution from her early days long before Fugly (2014) and Kabir Singh (2019) to becoming one of cinema’s most compelling actors today, returning more assured, self-aware, and firmly in control of her narrative. She has steadily carved a space for herself as one of the most compelling performers in contemporary cinema.
Talking about her early aspirations and discovering her passion for acting, she says, “I always wanted to be an actor. Early on, my parents figured that I had this little keeda in me,” she says, simply. Not as a distant dream, but as something she held close while growing up. Her parents, protective yet practical, insisted she finish her education first. In the interim before her first break, her father nudged her towards having a set routine. That routine led her to her mother’s playschool, where she worked as a teacher. “I used that as my little mini stage,” she smiles. “Those toddlers were my first audience, and a very forgiving one, as they would always have the biggest smiles if I did anything.”
Sharing how those early experiences shaped her resilience, she adds, “It made me tougher, more resilient and that drive never stopped.” Speaking about her approach to acting and working with directors, she shares, “I’m truly a director’s actor.” The Guilty (2020) actor believes that the connection between the director and an actor is everything. “As an actor, you’re portraying such layered emotions, which can be very vulnerable, so it’s important you are comfortable with the director. There has to be trust and that synergy.”
Reflecting on the feedback she has received on her craft, she says, “I have a lot of empathy as a person and I’m an intelligent actor who knows my creative priorities and is able to grasp layers and subtleties well,” she says. She also added, “Approaching the role with openness and rigour, I immersed myself in workshops and engaged in conversations with survivors, especially at a time when streaming projects and unconventional roles were still considered risks. I don’t have ego at all and will tell you exactly what’s on my mind and any apprehensions at all. I was coming off Kabir Singh, and yet I chose Guilty because I believed in it.”
Opening up about the challenges and depth required for her roles, she says, “In one of my Kannada movies my role demanded a lot, not just as an actor, but as a human being willing to explore difficult emotional terrains. It pushed me physically and emotionally”.
Sharing how her perspective on life has evolved over time, she says, “I’ve become more of a tigress,” she says, laughing softly. “The way I see life now, it is through a completely different lens. It’s like nothing else matters, and at the same time, everything matters.”
Reflecting on staying grounded despite her journey, she adds, “Yet, at my core, I am unchanged. That little girl is still inside me.”
