From Lust Stories to Kabir Singh: Kiara Advani’s 5 Bold Roles Before Toxic

Kiara Advani is set to play the lead role of Nadia in the upcoming action-thriller Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups, starring alongside Kannada superstar Yash. Her character is described as bold, glamorous, and intense, marking her debut in Kannada cinema. Kiara has already grabbed attention for her striking presence and bold scenes with Yash in the song Tabaahi. The film is slated for a worldwide theatrical release on August 26, 2026. 

In the 2025 action thriller War 2, Kiara Advani plays Kavya Luthra, marking her entry into the YRF Spy Universe. Breaking away from typical romantic roles, she takes on a more dynamic character with a mix of glamour and action, including stylish fight sequences and high-energy songs. Her glamorous look in the track Aavan Jaavan created buzz ahead of release, and the film also made headlines when the CBFC asked the makers to trim a brief portion of a pool scene before its theatrical release. 

Kiara Advani starred as Nanki Dutta in the 2020 Netflix film Guilty, a rebellious punk-rock musician whose boyfriend is accused of sexual assault. Directed by Ruchi Narain and produced by Karan Johar’s Dharmatic Entertainment, the film delves into the complexities of truth, perception, and victim-blaming in the #MeToo era, with Kiara delivering a bold and layered performance. 

Kiara Advani starred as Indira “Indoo” Gupta in the 2020 coming-of-age comedy Indoo Ki Jawani, directed by Abir Sengupta. The film follows a lively young woman from Ghaziabad as she navigates the ups and downs of digital dating apps. Known for its playful tone, the movie includes witty double meanings and candid conversations about modern relationships, dating, and attraction between Indoo and her best friend Sonal. 

In the 2019 blockbuster Kabir Singh, Kiara Advani played Preeti Sikka, a quiet medical student whose intense love story with the short-tempered Kabir, played by Shahid Kapoor, forms the heart of the film. Her performance added emotional depth to the narrative, while their on-screen chemistry grabbed major attention, including a few intimate kissing scenes that became widely talked about.

Kiara Advani played the role of Megha in the fourth segment of the 2018 Netflix anthology Lust Stories, a performance that became a major turning point in her career. She received widespread recognition and praise for her role as a young schoolteacher in an arranged marriage with Paras. While her husband is caring, he remains unaware of Megha’s emotional and physical dissatisfaction, making her character both relatable and impactful.