What is the story about?
Kiara Advani is embracing motherhood with grace, honesty, and a renewed sense of balance, both personally and professionally. Since welcoming her first
child, a baby girl, with husband Sidharth Malhotra in July this year, the actress has been reflecting on work culture, emotional well-being, and the importance of humane working hours. In a recent interview, Kiara opened up about working through most of her pregnancy, performing emotionally demanding scenes, and where she stands on the ongoing eight-hour shift debate. Her thoughts as a leading actress, especially in an industry often associated with long, exhausting schedules.
Kiara Advani speaks out against 'burnout'
In an interview with Vogue India, Kiara revealed that she filmed for seven months during her pregnancy, keeping the news closely guarded. Only her director and producer were aware. Sharing her views on the eight-hour shift discussion, the actress said, “Burnout helps no one in any industry.” She further emphasised the values she tries to practise across all aspects of her life, repeating three words she believes in deeply: “Dignity. Balance. Respect.”
Kiara credited her ability to manage work during pregnancy to a strong and dependable support system. She spoke warmly about having her mother by her side, a professional and understanding team, and her husband Sidharth Malhotra, whom she described as “an incredibly hands-on father.” With this support, the actress successfully completed filming Toxic, shot in English and Kannada, which is scheduled to release in March. Earlier, Deepika exiting Sandeep Reddy Vanga's next and Kalki 2898 AD due to 8-hour shift demand caused an industry-wide debate.
Kiara would speak to Saraayah during Toxic shoot
Recalling an especially emotional aspect of working while pregnant, Kiara shared a deeply personal ritual she followed on set. Before filming emotionally intense scenes, she would step into the bathroom of her vanity van, place a hand on her stomach, and whisper, “Mama is only acting, okay? This isn’t real.” The actress described this moment as a bridge, helping her separate the emotional demands of her role from the calm and reassurance she wanted her baby girl to feel.
Meanwhile, Kiara recently returned to the spotlight with her first look from Yash-starrer Toxic, marking her first film since embracing motherhood. The poster showed her character, Nadia, in a striking black off-the-shoulder gown with a thigh-high slit, standing alone on a dance floor under a spotlight, tears streaming down her face. The intense visual quickly grabbed attention online.
Responding to the overwhelming love from fans, Kiara took to Instagram Stories and wrote, “A role that demanded more from me – physically, mentally, emotionally and felt nothing short of transformative. My toughest one yet. Months of hard work. One fearless leap. To see this first look receive so much love means everything. Grateful beyond words.”
As Kiara Advani steps into this new phase of life, her words and choices reflect a conscious shift toward balance, proving that ambition and well-being don’t have to exist at opposite ends.
