Expansion & Ambition: Kiara Advani New Chapter

New Delhi, December 24, 2025: In a moving new interview with Vogue India (January 2026 issue), Bollywood sensation Kiara Advani has opened up about the transformative power of motherhood, following the birth of her daughter, Saraayah Malhotra, in July 2025.

Dismissing the outdated notion that a career must take a backseat after children, Kiara declared that she has never felt more driven. “Motherhood expands you,” she shared. “I’ve never been more ambitious. The fire within you becomes more focused.”

A New Philosophy of Time

For the 34-year-old actress, the arrival of Saraayah hasn’t just changed her personal life—it has completely reshaped her professional rigor. Kiara revealed that she has become a master of time management, often listening to script narrations while her daughter naps.

“I’ve become very focused about how I use the gaps,” she explained. “Earlier, time could just leak away. Now, I feel responsible for it.”

Professional Power and the “8-Hour” Debate

Kiara’s return to the spotlight comes at a time when the industry is debating work-life balance, sparked by fellow actor Deepika Padukone’s recent advocacy for 8-hour workdays. Weighing in, Kiara emphasized that “burnout helps no one,” and that she now operates on a three-word mantra: Dignity, Balance, and Respect.

This newfound clarity is reflected in her upcoming projects. She recently unveiled her first look as “Nadia” in the pan-Indian film Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups (releasing March 2026), alongside Yash. Interestingly, Kiara shot for the film for seven months during her pregnancy, keeping her condition a secret from most of the crew while filming intense sequences.

The “Hands-On” Support System

The actress was quick to credit her husband, Sidharth Malhotra, as an “incredibly hands-on father.” The couple, who married in 2023, have already begun introducing their daughter to the world, recently taking her on a trip to Masai Mara.

Despite the glamour of her career, Kiara insists on keeping her daughter’s life grounded. She spoke about wanting Saraayah to experience “realness”—feeling the grass under her feet and staining books with crayons—while she continues to reach new heights in her acting career.