Kiara Advani is receiving widespread appreciation from several filmmakers she has collaborated with over the years, as she features on the latest cover of Grazia India. In the accompanying feature, directors including Geetu Mohandas, Raj Mehta, Sandeep Reddy Vanga and Karan Johar reflected on her instinct, discipline and emotional sensitivity as an actor.
Speaking about casting Advani in Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups, Mohandas shared why she saw the actor as the natural choice for the role of Nadia. “Nadia (portrayed by Advani) embodies fragility and ferocity at once, so from the very beginning, she was my first and only choice. There is something about her screen presence that feels deeply human. Sometimes cinema begins not with logic, but with a feeling, and casting Kiara was exactly that kind of feeling,” she said.
She also described Advani’s working process as inward and emotionally layered. “Her dedication is not loud or performative. It is quiet, disciplined and deeply sincere. She doesn’t just follow direction. She participates in building the emotional architecture of the character. You can see that she has spent time living with the character in her mind long before the camera starts rolling. But what truly sets her apart is her curiosity, which transforms the filmmaking process into a conversation rather than a one-sided direction”.
Reflecting on the demands of the role, Mohandas added, “The role demanded a lot, not just as an actor, but as a human being willing to explore difficult emotional terrains. It pushed her physically and emotionally. Suddenly, the person standing in front of the camera was no longer an actor performing, but the character breathing. As a director, those moments are magical. You realise you are witnessing something fragile and beautiful, like an actor surrendering completely to a story.”
Director Raj Mehta, who worked with Advani on Good Newwz, praised her adaptability and preparation. “She’s frill-free as an actor and very adaptable, mature and open to improvising,” he said. “There’s a lot of prep, but she makes it look effortless.”
Similarly, Sandeep Reddy Vanga recalled her understated performance in Kabir Singh. “Most actors try to fill silence with performance,” he said. “Kiara was comfortable letting the moment breathe. She had that emotional innocence without artificial sweetness.”
For Karan Johar, who directed Advani in Lust Stories, her instinctive understanding of emotional vulnerability stood out early on. “She comes alive on camera,” he said, recalling a demanding scene she delivered in a single take after the set was cleared down to a minimal crew. “That’s when I realised she’s a solid actor, and one who understands instructions and has great comprehension.”
Johar also reflected on her emotional intelligence and presence both on and off screen. “Kiara is the most beautiful crier in the whole world. I've never seen anyone cry as beautifully as her on-screen. She touches you and pulls at your heartstrings.” He added that off camera she is “well-mannered, immensely cultured, and one of the most beautifully raised children”, noting that his mother Hiroo Johar “loves and adores Kiara, and always says that all daughters should grow up to be like her because she has such a beautiful way of expressing her love to elders.”
Director Ruchi Narain, who worked with Advani on Guilty, also highlighted the actor’s empathy and commitment to layered storytelling choices. “She has a lot of empathy as a person and is an intelligent actor who knows her creative priorities, and is able to grasp layers and subtleties well.” She added, “She has no ego at all and will tell you exactly what's on her mind, including her apprehensions. She was coming off Kabir Singh, and yet she chose Guilty because she believed in it.”
Looking ahead, Advani is set to appear next in Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups, a project expected to present her in a darker and more layered space while continuing her collaboration with filmmakers who value her instinctive and emotionally grounded approach to performance.
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