Kiara Advani’s Guilty: A film ahead of its time, more relevant than ever today

March 6, 2025 - 2:27 PM IST

In 2020, when Guilty released on OTT, it marked a time when streaming services were still gaining traction in India. The film, featuring one of Kiara Advani’s most transformative performances, delved into sexual assault, victim shaming, and the complexities of truth—themes that remain highly relevant. In hindsight, Guilty was not just a film; it was a cultural moment that could have created an even greater impact if released in today’s post-pandemic, OTT-dominated era.

Kiara Advani’s Guilty: A film ahead of its time, more relevant than ever today

When Guilty premiered, OTT platforms were not yet the go-to choice for Bollywood's big stars and mainstream films. Fresh off the blockbuster Kabir Singh, Kiara Advani took a bold risk with Guilty, breaking away from her glamorous image to deliver a dark, unconventional performance. Produced by Karan Johar’s Dharmatic Entertainment, the film stood out as one of the early flagship OTT originals in India, before streaming gained dominance during the pandemic.

Why Guilty Would Have Resonated More in 2025?

1. A More Receptive Audience

In 2020, Indian audiences were still adjusting to streaming platforms. Today, with viewers embracing complex, female-led narratives like Dahaad, Scoop, Made In Heaven, Four More Shots Please, Guilty would have resonated with a wider and more engaged audience. OTT has provided a thriving space for women-cantered stories, making Guilty’s themes even more impactful.

2. The #MeToo Movement’s Continued Relevance

As one of Bollywood’s early films addressing sexual assault and #MeToo, Guilty highlighted issues of consent, power dynamics, and victim shaming. If released today, its dialogues and themes would have likely gone viral, sparking widespread discussions and societal impact.

3. Kiara Advani’s Stardom

Guilty was a turning point for Kiara Advani, allowing her to showcase a more dynamic range as an actor. Taking bold choices with this role, she moved beyond commercial films to deliver a layered, intense performance that earned her critical acclaim and awards. Today, as one of India’s most bankable actors with films like JugJugg Jeeyo and Satyaprem Ki Katha, her performance in Guilty further solidified her reputation as a versatile actor.

4. Deeper Impact

A 2025 release would have amplified discussions on news channels and on platforms like Twitter and Reddit, with fan theories, character analyses, and debates about the film’s moral complexities.

Guilty's release in 2020 already demonstrated its potential for global reach and impact. The film's powerful themes of feminism and justice resonated strongly, showcasing Kiara Advani's remarkable range and her commitment to bold, challenging roles. This critical acclaim and the subsequent awards solidified her position as a versatile actor capable of delivering impactful performances.

In today's OTT-driven, socially conscious landscape, where OTT is the first-choice medium for bold storytelling, originals like Class, Monica O My Darling, and Khufiya are gaining international recognition, a re-release or a similar project building on Guilty's foundation would undoubtedly amplify its global impact even further.

Kiara’s fearless performance remains a benchmark in her career and could still inspire important conversations about justice and consent. Given the trend of OTT franchises like Mirzapur, Delhi Crime, Aarya, Hasseen Dillruba, a sequel exploring Kiara’s character further would be a thrilling possibility. Perhaps it’s time for a sequel or deeper dive into its characters—because stories like these deserve a second chance.

Also Read: Kiara Advani quits Don 3 after announcing pregnancy with Sidharth Malhotra: Report