The 10th edition of IAA Leadership Awards took place on August 9 in Mumbai. Star Bollywood actress Kiara Advani was adjudged the IAA Brand Endorser Of The Year. After bagging the award, the actress sat with Neeraj Roy, the Managing Director of Hungama Digital Media Entertainment, for a candid chat on the brand she has built for herself.
When Kiara’s achievements over the last few years were listed out to her, she said, “Honestly, I've just had fun. I wanted to do this; ever since I can remember I wanted to be an actor. And my approach towards the craft, towards my choices have been purely heart and instinctively. And that hasn’t changed. I’ve not allowed the success or failure to get to me in any way. I have somehow managed to have those blinkers on and just gone on every day on this journey cherishing every moment truly. And somewhere along this journey, I think the audience has showered tremendous love on me, they have resonated with the work I've done, with the person that they see on screen and off screen. And it's very humbling.”
She added, “A lot of credit to all the filmmakers, all the producers who've put in a lot of faith in me, seen my talent, seen the potential, but I still feel I'm just scratching the surface. And there's a long, long way to go.”
During the course of the conversation, it was pointed out that Kiara has become a brand ambassador of a large number of brands over the years. When asked how does she feel about this, she said, “I feel well, when I started out personally, it seemed like this perk of the job. As an actor, all of a sudden all these brands want to associate with you. But as I, you know, as I grew in my craft and my career, what I realized was I always chose to associate with brands that either I was personally consuming or I believed in and I knew this is something that I want to lend my name to. And I know that you know there is a similar shared value or personality that matches and complements me with the brand and vice versa.
Kiara also spoke about the responsibility a star should consider while promoting a product. “But as I went along, I realized that here are these million people, like you say, on social media, who trust you, respect you, follow you. And there's a sense of responsibility there. There's a sense of, you know you don't want to let them down. And if so many people are putting that kind of faith in you, then it's your responsibility to stay authentic and true to who you are. And I think that's who I am, I'm quite real. When it comes to whatever I do, films, you know, the good, the bad, all of it. It's all I wholeheartedly own and stand by each one of them. I also feel you know, there is of course this entire team that the brand works with who knows that these are the stats, and there's a reason they're coming to you as an actor. They've done their homework. So, it's important to see what you bring to the table, but also what they bring to the table for you. How you complement each other.”
She added, “And if that you know that synergy works, I think I think it's lovely. I've been fortunate to be amongst this list of brands that use brands that you've said I've I've had very long term. And when I say long term, it's in my short span of my career, but it's for probably like five years of the seven eight years that I've been here So for me that that that shows something that means something, and I'd like to take these ahead with me, I think it's interesting to grow with the brand.”
Kiara’s marriage with fellow actor Sidharth Malhotra became the talk of the town and their pair is one of the most loved in the industry. Kiara was asked about being a brand ambassador as a pair with Siddharth. She said, “So, we're very clear about what we want to do together as a brand. There are certain attributes that we look for when we want, you know, whenever we decided to partner with the brand. Before we were married, there were two brands that we signed on individually. We were not a pair of that kind, like it was not a husband wife kind of pairing. But now that people will probably come to us as a pair as a couple. So, for that we have thought about it. And I think for both of us the quality, the family values and the legacy of the brand would be very important. We have said no to a few and our managers will hate us for it. But we just feel that because the audience has given us a lot of love as a couple especially, there's probably a certain sense of being self-made. We are both individuals who've come into this career by ourselves, made it here on our own. There's a lot of hard work that they resonate with. So, I think they will also be looking forward to what we do as a brand when we decide to lend our name to a brand. So that's something we've actually put in. That's probably the only thing I've put in so much thought to in my career. When we say nothing is no, it's good. Maybe you shouldn't put so much thought to it.”
Gender equality in terms of fees has been a topic of debate in the film industry over several years. Kiara was asked her take on the same. She said, “Well, I think this is a very, very large debate that can be had and this is like you said, it's world over and (in) every field. If I have to strictly stick with the ad world, I feel it’s changing there. But I think I'd rather speak for myself. I think it's important to value yourself. It's important to not be diluted and know where you stand, what you bring to the table. I would not want to compare myself to what my male or female counterpart is receiving. But if I feel this is my worth, then I would like to associate with people who see the same. And I am growing. And I am happy with the way I'm valued. So, I would stick to that. And I think it's important to see how you are growing from where you've come. And that's how I look at it.”
Lastly, Kiara was asked what they should look out for in brand Kiara. She said in jest, “How lovely! This feels like, I'm going to be selling myself right now. Well, like the all the lovely attributes you said. But I feel, I would like to resonate universally. I was told this once by someone that a quality that they saw in me was being relatable, yet aspirational, which is quite a unique combination. And that is something which I see that even my brands usually tap into when we make our ads. So that is I think, you don't have to be just one type. You don't just have to be the girl next door or the dependable one or the family person or the one who's empowering women or the strong independent woman you can be all of it and that's why I'm and I think that's who today's woman is. I think that's who she is. And that's what I think I am.”
Kiara was last seen in the romantic drama Satyaprem Ki Katha, alongside Kartik Aaryan. The film, which was directed by Sameer Vidwans, turned out to be a success at the box office.
Also Read: Kiara Advani recounts her first stint in front of the camera; says, “I was just 8 months”
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