Sidharth Malhotra: From Modeling to Leading Roles — A Career in Flux

Sidharth Malhotra was born on 16 January 1985 in Delhi, India, into a Punjabi Hindu family. His father, Sunil Malhotra, served in the Merchant Navy, while his mother, Rimma Malhotra, is a homemaker. He completed his schooling in Delhi, attending institutions such as Don Bosco School and Naval Public School, and later graduated from Shaheed Bhagat Singh College at the University of Delhi. T

Entry into the Entertainment Industry
Malhotra began his professional journey in modelling at around age 18. After several years, feeling limited by modelling, he transitioned behind the camera, working as an assistant director on Karan Johar’s My Name Is Khan (2010). His acting debut came in 2012 with Student of the Year, a teen-romance film produced by Dharma Productions, which gave him visibility but also set expectations tied to his looks and glamour.

Key Career Phases: Successes and Setbacks

• 2012–2016: Early in his acting career, Malhotra appeared in commercially successful and well-received films: Hasee Toh Phasee (2014) and Ek Villain (2014) are among them. These helped establish him as a bankable actor in romantic and thriller-genres.
• 2017–2019: This period saw mixed results. Films such as A Gentleman, Ittefaq, Aiyaary, and Jabariya Jodi underperformed or were met with lukewarm critical reception.
• 2021 onward: Malhotra’s portrayal of Captain Vikram Batra in Shershaah (2021) was a turning point — the film was both a critical and popular success, earning him renewed credibility as a leading actor. He also then starred in Yodha (2024), expanding into action thriller territory.

Recent Personal Life Events & Projects

• In early to mid-2025, Malhotra and his wife, actress Kiara Advani, became parents to their first child, a girl.
• His film Param Sundari, co-starring Janhvi Kapoor, was released in August 2025. The romantic comedy has drawn attention for its cross-region romantic narrative and is now preparing for OTT release.

Public Image, Challenges & Critical Assessment

• While Malhotra has had commercial hits, his career reflects fluctuations characteristic of many actors navigating between mainstream cinema demands and content-driven roles. Some of his projects have been critiqued for weak scripts or failing to resonate with audiences, especially during the period of mixed performances.
• He is also part of the conversation on nepotism in Bollywood; although he does not come from a film family, some critics and observers point to his launch under and association with big names (like Dharma Productions) in discussions of insider-outsider dynamics.
• Malhotra has shown selective approach toward his projects lately, perhaps shaped by lessons from past setbacks and the need for roles that offer both critical engagement and commercial reach.

Outlook
As of late 2025, Sidharth Malhotra is in a phase where personal milestones (fatherhood) and professional recalibration coincide. His recent film Param Sundari is expected to further test his pull with audiences in the romantic-comedy space, while his action and thriller roles will be watched for how they sustain or reshape his industry standing. Observers will be interested in whether his upcoming projects manage to balance audience expectations with stronger storytelling, and how he leverages digital and OTT platforms as part of his future trajectory.

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Last Updated on: Monday, October 6, 2025 8:50 pm by Outlook News Team | Published by: Outlook News Team on Monday, October 6, 2025 8:50 pm | News Categories: Lifestyle