10/10 If You Get These Little-Known Facts Right About Birthday Boy Sidharth Malhotra

Starting his career in Karan Johar’s 2012 movie Student of the Year alongside Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan, Sidharth Malhotra has progressed significantly, gaining both mass acclaim and critical praise for his role in the 2021 war film Shershaah.

Over the years, he has carved a niche for himself in Bollywood, and his marriage to Kiara Advani in 2023 added a touch of magic to his journey. As he marks his 39th birthday on January 16, here are 10 facts that you’d be amazed to know about the Shershaah actor.

• Sidharth’s father served as a captain in the Merchant Navy, while his mother is a homemaker.

• Launching his career at 18, Sidharth began with modelling but grew discontent, eventually quitting after four years.

• In 2007, he participated in Get Gorgeous, a model talent search and reality TV show.

• His venture into acting commenced in 2009 with the TV show Dharti Ka Veer Yodha Prithviraj Chauhan.

• Despite a successful audition, Sidharth’s first Bollywood project directed by Anubhav Sinha was shelved.

• In 2010, he collaborated with Karan Johar, serving as an assistant director on My Name Is Khan.

• His Bollywood acting journey commenced in 2012 with the teen drama Student of the Year.

• Sidharth took on a dual role in the 2017 action comedy A Gentleman.

• Sidharth earned immense love and admiration for portraying Indian army officer Vikram Batra in Shershaah, a 2021 biographical war film that faced release delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the hurdles, it became the most-watched film on the OTT platform it premiered on.

• In 2023, Sidharth secured the sixth position as the most Googled personality in India. His wedding pictures on Instagram achieved the distinction of being the most-liked Instagram post in the country.

Celebrating his birthday, the actor enjoyed a midnight celebration at his Mumbai home with Kiara. Kiara expressed her wishes on social media, sharing a video montage featuring moments from the midnight cake-cutting ceremony. The montage captured heartfelt images of Sidharth and Kiara embracing and sharing a kiss during the birthday festivities, with him in a colourful T-shirt and her in a black dress.