Kiara Advani was born on July 31, 1991, in Mumbai, which makes her 35 years old as of 2026. Many sites list her birth year as 1992, but 1991 is the year given in standard references and reflected in her widely covered birthdays. Here is a verified look at her age, her real name, her career from Fugly to Toxic, and the key milestones in between.
Kiara Advani quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Alia Advani |
| Professional name | Kiara Advani |
| Born | July 31, 1991, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Age | 35 (as of 2026) |
| Occupation | Actress (Hindi and Telugu films) |
| Film debut | Fugly (2014) |
| Breakout role | Sakshi Dhoni in M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story (2016) |
| Spouse | Sidharth Malhotra (married February 7, 2023) |
| Children | One daughter, born July 2025 |
How old is Kiara Advani?
Kiara Advani turned 35 on July 31, 2026. Because her birthday falls at the end of July, any age you calculate for the first seven months of a year will be one year lower than for the rest of it. The age of 32 that circulated in early 2024 was off by a year in the other direction: in March 2024 she was 32, but only because her birthday had not yet arrived, and she turned 33 that July.
The confusion over 1991 and 1992 is common for actors who started out in modeling and advertising, when birth years are often repeated from one fan page to another without checking. The 1991 date is the one used by standard film references.
Why she changed her name from Alia to Kiara
She was born Alia Advani. Before her debut, Alia Bhatt had already become a star, so two newcomers with the same first name would have caused obvious confusion. Kiara has said in interviews that Salman Khan suggested a name change, and that she picked “Kiara” after Priyanka Chopra’s character in the film Anjaana Anjaani. She has used Kiara Advani professionally since her first film.
Early life and education
Kiara grew up in Mumbai. She attended Cathedral and John Connon School and later studied at Jai Hind College.
Career timeline
Debut and breakthrough (2014 to 2017)
Kiara made her film debut in Fugly (2014). The film did little at the box office, but it got her noticed. Her real breakthrough came two years later in M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story (2016), where she played Sakshi, the wife of cricketer MS Dhoni. The biopic was a major commercial hit and put her in front of a national audience. She followed it with the thriller Machine (2017).
One correction to a common claim: Lust Stories was not her first breakthrough. It came out in 2018, after the Dhoni film, though it did change how audiences saw her.
Rise to the top (2018 to 2019)
2018 was a turning point. Her comic segment in the Netflix anthology Lust Stories, directed by Karan Johar, became one of the most talked-about parts of the film. She shared that segment with Vicky Kaushal and Neha Dhupia, and its final scene became one of the most widely discussed moments of any Indian streaming release that year. The same year she made her Telugu debut opposite Mahesh Babu in Bharat Ane Nenu, a big hit.
In 2019 she starred as Preeti opposite Shahid Kapoor in Kabir Singh, the Hindi remake of the 2017 Telugu film Arjun Reddy. Both versions were directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga. The Hindi version became one of the biggest commercial successes of Kiara’s career up to that point.
Kabir Singh drew heavy criticism over its portrayal of its lead character, but it was one of the highest-grossing Hindi films of the year. She ended 2019 with the comedy Good Newwz alongside Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Diljit Dosanjh, another commercial success.
Shershaah and leading roles (2020 to 2023)
Her 2020 releases had mixed fortunes: Laxmii, a horror comedy with Akshay Kumar, premiered directly on Disney+ Hotstar during the pandemic, and Indoo Ki Jawani had a limited theatrical run. In 2021 she played Dimple Cheema opposite Sidharth Malhotra in Shershaah, the war biopic of Captain Vikram Batra, which became one of Amazon Prime Video’s most-watched Indian films and earned her a Filmfare Best Actress nomination.
2022 brought Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, a big theatrical hit, plus JugJugg Jeeyo and Govinda Naam Mera. In 2023 she led Satyaprem Ki Katha with Kartik Aaryan.
Pan-India projects (2025 to 2026)
In January 2025 she appeared opposite Ram Charan in the Telugu political drama Game Changer, and in August 2025 she was part of the YRF Spy Universe film War 2 with Hrithik Roshan and NTR Jr. Her next big project is Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups, directed by Geetu Mohandas and led by Yash, in which she plays Nadia. The film moved from a planned March 2026 release to August 26, 2026.
Key films by year
| Year | Film | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Fugly | Debut |
| 2016 | M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story | Breakthrough |
| 2018 | Lust Stories / Bharat Ane Nenu | Netflix anthology / Telugu debut |
| 2019 | Kabir Singh / Good Newwz | Two major hits |
| 2021 | Shershaah | Filmfare Best Actress nomination |
| 2022 | Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 | Box office hit |
| 2023 | Satyaprem Ki Katha | Romantic drama |
| 2025 | Game Changer / War 2 | Pan-India releases |
| 2026 | Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups | Plays Nadia |
Marriage to Sidharth Malhotra
Kiara and actor Sidharth Malhotra, her Shershaah co-star, married on February 7, 2023, in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. In July 2025 the couple announced the birth of their daughter. Beyond those public announcements, they keep their family life largely private.
How she compares with her peers
Kiara belongs to the generation of Indian actresses who moved easily between theatrical releases and streaming, and between Hindi and South Indian cinema. Her mid-30s mark a point where many actresses, from Bollywood to Hollywood names like Ana de Armas, take on their biggest roles. If you follow younger Indian public figures, see our piece on Navya Naveli Nanda’s age, and for another actress whose age is often misreported, our guide to Alba Baptista’s age.
Frequently asked questions
How old is Kiara Advani in 2026?
She was born on July 31, 1991, so she turned 35 in July 2026.
What is Kiara Advani’s real name?
Her birth name is Alia Advani. She adopted the name Kiara before her 2014 debut to avoid confusion with Alia Bhatt.
When did Kiara Advani marry Sidharth Malhotra?
They married on February 7, 2023, in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, and welcomed a daughter in July 2025.
What was Kiara Advani’s first film?
Her first film was Fugly (2014). Her breakthrough came with M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story in 2016.
What role does Kiara Advani play in Toxic?
She plays Nadia in Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups, directed by Geetu Mohandas and starring Yash.
