Kiara Advani: ‘I am a different person’: Kiara Advani once opened up about how motherhood changed her identity, parenting priorities and relationship with herself

Kiara Advani and Sidharth Malhotra have announced that they are expecting their second child. The couple shared the news on Instagram on October 7, with their daughter Saraayah pictured alongside them. They captioned the post, “Blessed once again with the greatest gift of all. Our hearts are so full of love and gratitude.” The announcement comes a little over a year after Kiara and Sidharth welcomed their first child, daughter Saraayah, in July 2025. As Kiara prepares to embrace motherhood once again, her earlier comments about parenting offer a glimpse into how deeply becoming a mother changed her. During a conversation with Raj Shamani, she spoke about the emotional adjustment that came with becoming a parent and how having a daughter gave her a new sense of purpose.

Motherhood changed how Kiara saw herself

For Kiara, becoming a mother was not simply about taking on a new responsibility. She described it as a major personal transformation that changed the way she thought, felt and made decisions. “I feel, before becoming a mum and after becoming a mum, I am a completely different person. In every way. I have also come to terms with it now,” she said. Parenting also changed the way she looked at her choices. Kiara explained that she now thinks about the example she wants to set for her daughter and how Saraayah might view her actions. “I want to lead by example for my daughter. What would my daughter feel? How would she feel if I did this?” she said. Her comments highlight a part of parenting that goes beyond feeding, caring for or raising a child. For Kiara, motherhood also meant becoming more conscious of the person she wanted to be in front of her daughter.

‘It is such an identity shift’

Kiara also spoke openly about the postpartum period and why she believes women need more conversations around what happens after childbirth. “Nobody talks about postpartum, and it should be spoken about more,” she said, describing motherhood as “such an identity shift”. She explained that adjusting to the new reality did not happen overnight. “It takes time. It has taken me six months,” she said, adding that she repeatedly reminded herself, “Just give yourself grace.” For a new mother, the pressure to immediately return to normal can make an already overwhelming period even harder. Kiara’s experience made her realise that women also need patience and emotional space while learning how to navigate their new role.

Parenting also taught her to care for herself

One of the biggest lessons Kiara said she learned after becoming a mother was the importance of maintaining a relationship with herself. “You forget about the relationship you need to have with yourself. The things you need to tell yourself,” she said. She also reflected on how motherhood helped her set boundaries and become less critical of herself. “After 34 years, I have learned to set boundaries. I have learned not to have critical conversations with myself. I have learned not to focus on fear,” she shared.As she enters another chapter of parenthood, those lessons remain especially relevant. Kiara’s reflections suggest that parenting is not only about changing your life around a child. It can also mean learning to understand yourself differently, accepting that adjustment takes time and recognising that caring for yourself is part of caring for your family.