10 Lesser-Known Facts About Kiara Advani That You Need to Know

A rising star in the Bollywood industry, Kiara Advani—formerly known as 'Alia' Advani—has proved her mettle over the years. With a blockbuster performance in Dharma Productions' Shershaah, she has paved the way for stardom, garnering a massive fan-following amongst Indian audiences. In an exclusive interview with Cosmo, she said, "I have absolutely no right to complain because this is what I’ve always dreamt of."

While she lives a pretty public life, there's a lot you probably don't know about the actor. From her childhood dream to her education, we spill all that you need to know about this up and coming celebrity. 

 

A Die-Hard Cinephile

 

Before even entering Bollywood, Kiara had decided that she wanted to make it on-screen. "My goal was clear: to be an actor. I went to college and got a degree because my parents wanted me to have a solid backup plan, but in my mind, I knew what I really wanted to do. I just knew that someday, I will be up there. I think I had immense belief in myself... Even through college, if I ever bunked class, it was to take up an acting class or a dance class. And all those days, all I did was participate in dance events and fashion shows, and anything related to this field," she said in an interview with Cosmo. "I was listening to every Govinda song ever, and delivering dialogues from Kabhi Khusi Kabhie Ghum (2001) on repeat," she once said.

 

The Journey from Alia to Kiara

 

The actor wasn't born as 'Kiara', but in fact, as 'Alia'. When making her way into Bollywood, she decided to change her name, on Salman Khan's advice. "Alia is my first name. Salman suggested that I change it because of Alia Bhatt. There can't be two actresses with the same name in Bollywood." Well, the name Kiara Advani has got a nice ring to it, right?

 

Why Kiara? Credit: Priyanka Chopra Jonas

 

"The name Kiara was inspired from Priyanka Chopra's movie Anjaana Anjaani," the actor revealed in an interview. "I thought, 'what a beautiful name. If I have a daughter, I'll call her Kiara.' But before that I need a name for myself!" she added. Thank you for the inspo, Priyanka Chopra Jonas. 

 

A Degree in Mass Communication 

 

During an interview with Cosmo India, she said, "For me, it was like wearing blinders. I never had a Plan B, I never even thought of another profession as an option. I went to college and got a degree because my parents wanted me to have a solid backup plan, but in my mind, I knew what I really wanted to do." The Bollywood diva completed her Bachelors in Mass Media from a reputed institution in Mumbai. 

 

First Job, Before Acting

 

While acting was always her dream job, Kiara first worked as a teacher in Mumbai's Early Birds Playschool, where her mother was the headmistress. 

 

Near-Death Experience

 

Kiara Advani recalled an instance where her friends and she were stranded in McLeodganj, due to heavy snowfall. "Long story short, our room caught fire," she said. 

 

Her Debut Performance as a Baby 

 

Before making her debut in comedy-drama-thriller Fugly (2014), Kiara Advani appeared in a commercial for baby cream alongside her mother, as a toddler. After Fugly's failure at the box office, she admittedly went into a shell. I thought getting your first film was hard enough, that afterwards, your phone would ring off the hook with offers...until I realised it wasn't going to be like that," she told Vogue India. 

 

Industry Connections

 

Not many are aware that Kiara Advani is legendary Bollywood actor, Ashok Kumar’s great-granddaughter, and Saeed Jaffrey’s grand-niece.

 

Didn't Audition For Lust Stories

 

Did you know that the actor didn't audition for her part in the anthology film Lust Stories (2018)? "Karan Johar has an eye for it. He spots a performer and he knows how to get it done," she revealed in an interview. 

 

She Was Embarrassed About Her Obsession With Bollywood

 

"I went to Cathedral, a school in South Mumbai, where nobody watched Hindi movies. It was almost looked down upon. When my friends would call and ask what I was doing, I would quickly switch the channel and say something like, ‘Oh, I was just watching F.R.I.E.N.D.S and chilling’. But in reality, I was devouring every single Govinda-Raveena Tandon movie that would play on Saturdays and Sundays!" she told Cosmo.