QUICK INFO→ | |
---|---|
Real Name: | Aalia Furniturewala |
Profession: | Indian Actress |
Birthplace: | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
Years active: | 2020–present |
Age: | 26 |
Aalia Furniturewala (born 28 November 1997), known by her stage name Alaya F, is an Indian actor who appears in Hindi films. Born into the Bedi family, she is the daughter of actor Pooja Bedi. She made her acting debut in 2020 with the comedy film Jawaani Jaaneman, for which she won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut. She has since starred in the thriller Freddy (2022).
Alaya Furniturewala Biography
|
|
---|---|
Born |
28 November 1997 (age 26)
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
Nationality | Indian |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 2020–present |
Parent | Pooja Bedi (mother) |
Relatives | Bedi family |
Early life and background
Alaya F was born Aalia Furniturewala on 28 November 1997, in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India to actress Pooja Bedi and businessman Farhan Ebrahim Furniturewala. She is of Parsi and Gujarati Khoja Muslim descent on her father’s side and Punjabi, Haryanvi, British and Bengali descent on her mother’s side. She is the granddaughter of actor Kabir Bedi and classical dancer Protima Bedi.
She studied at Jamnabai Narsee School in Mumbai. Before making her film debut, she earned a diploma in acting at the New York Film Academy and later changed her name to Alaya F. She is presently training to be a contemporary and kathak dancer.In 2011, she appeared on the reality show, Maa Exchange.
Career
Alaya made her film debut with Nitin Kakkar’s Jawaani Jaaneman (2020), a family comedy-drama, in which she played a 21-year-old girl claiming a 40-year-old person who has a hatred for marriages, to be her father. The film received mixed reviews from critics. Bollywood Hungama noted, “Alaya makes an excellent debut and puts up a confident act. She looks gorgeous and is the only actor who moves viewers to an extent.” While India Today mentioned “Alaya will steal your heart. She is just a natural in front of the camera.” She won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut for her performance.
Alaya promoting Freddy in 2022
Alaya next played Kainaaz Irani, a woman in an abusive marriage in the 2022 film Freddy opposite Kartik Aaryan. News18 noted, “Alaya’s performance is worth appreciating. She has done her part with utmost ease and grace.” Filmfare said Alaya has managed to be both “vulnerable” and “cunning”.
She then appeared in the 2023 film Almost Pyaar with DJ Mohabbat, opposite Karan Mehta. India Today stated, “Alaya has proved once again she is growing as an actor and makes a case for herself. She has portrayed both her characters with ease, perfection and brings out the innocence in her so well.” The film was a huge commercial failure at the box office.
Media image
Alaya is a celebrity endorser for several brands and products including Lenskart and Nykaa. She became the face of Nykaa’s “A Million Nakhras” campaign in 2022. Alaya was ranked 42nd in Times’ 50 Most Desirable Women List of 2020. In 2023, Alaya was placed in Eastern Eye’s “30 under 30 Asians” list.
Filmography
Films
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | Jawaani Jaaneman | Tia Singh | ||
2022 | Freddy | Kainaaz Irani | ||
2023 | Almost Pyaar with DJ Mohabbat | Amrita / Ayesha | ||
U-Turn | Rashika Bakshi | |||
2024 | Sri † | TBA | Filming | |
Bade Miyan Chote Miyan † | TBA | Filming | ||
TBA | Ek Aur Ghazab Kahani † | TBA | Completed |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2011 | Maa Exchange | Participant | Along with her mother Pooja Bedi |
Music videos
Year | Title | Singer | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
2021 | “Aaj Sajeya” | Goldie Sohel |
Awards and nominations
Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021 | 66th Filmfare Awards | Best Female Debut | Jawaani Jaaneman | Won | |
2023 | Bollywood Hungama Style Icons | Most Stylish Breakthrough Talent (Female) | — | Nominated |