Alaya F

Alaya F
Alaya F in 2022
Born
Aalia Furniturewala

(1997-11-28) 28 November 1997 (age 26)
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
OccupationActress
Years active2020–present
MotherPooja Bedi
RelativesBedi family

Aalia Furniturewala[a] (born 28 November 1997), known by her stage name Alaya F, is an Indian actress who appears in Hindi films. Born into the Bedi family, she is the daughter of actress 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) and the biopic Srikanth (2024).

Early life and background

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Alaya F was born Aalia Furniturewala on 28 November 1997,[1][2][3] in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India to actress Pooja Bedi and businessman Farhan Ebrahim Furniturewala.[4] She is of Parsi and Gujarati Khoja descent on her father's side and Punjabi, Haryanvi, British and Bengali descent on her mother's side.[5][6][7] She is the granddaughter of actor Kabir Bedi and classical dancer Protima Bedi.[8][9]

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.[1] She is presently training to be a contemporary and kathak dancer.[10] In 2011, she appeared on the reality show, Maa Exchange, with her mother.[11][12]

Career

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Alaya made her film debut with Nitin Kakkar's Jawaani Jaaneman (2020), a family comedy-drama, in which she played a pregnant 21-year-old girl who uncovers the identity of her father.[13][14] 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".[15] While Vibha Maru of India Today mentioned "Alaya will steal your heart. She is just a natural in front of the camera."[16] She earned the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut for her performance.[17]

Alaya next played the antagonist as a woman in an abusive marriage who seeks help from her dentist (played by Kartik Aaryan) in the 2022 thriller Freddy.[18][19] Devesh Sharma of Filmfare described Alaya as both "vulnerable" and "cunning".[20][21] She then appeared in Anurag Kashyap's romance Almost Pyaar with DJ Mohabbat (2023), opposite Karan Mehta.[22][23] Grace Cyril of India Today was appreciative of Alaya's growth as an actress, and thought that she "portrayed both her characters with ease, perfection and brings out the innocence in her so well".[24] The film emerged as a box-office bomb.[25] In the same year, she played a news intern in the Zee5 film, U-Turn.[26][27] Deepa Gahlot praised her for "holding the film together, pulling out the right emotions required, and not letting the slightest scepticism leak out of those large, expressive eyes."[28]

In 2024, Alaya played an IT specialist in Ali Abbas Zafar's actioner Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, co-starring Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff. It was theatrically released on Eid to negative reviews from critics and emerged as a box-office bomb.[29][30][31] She then played the girlfriend of blind entrepreneur Srikanth Bolla in his biopic Srikanth, opposite Rajkummar Rao.[32] Pratikshya Mishra of The Quint noted that she "leaves a mark" despite her limited screen time.[33]

Media image

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Alaya is a celebrity endorser for several brands and products including Lenskart and Nykaa.[34] She became the face of Nykaa's "A Million Nakhras" campaign in 2022.[35] Alaya was ranked 42nd in Times' 50 Most Desirable Women List of 2020.[36] In 2023, Alaya was placed in Eastern Eye's "30 under 30 Asians" list.[37]

Filmography

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Films

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2015 Snow White and the Satan Dwarves — Short; also screenplay writer [38]
2020 Jawaani Jaaneman Tia Singh [39][40]
2022 Freddy Kainaaz Irani [41][42]
2023 Almost Pyaar with DJ Mohabbat Amrita / Ayesha [43]
U-Turn Radhika Bakshi [44]
2024 Bade Miyan Chote Miyan Dr. Parminder "Pam" Bawa [45]
Srikanth Veera Swathi [32]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2011 Maa Exchange Participant Along with her mother Pooja Bedi [46]

Music videos

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Year Title Singer Ref.
2021 "Aaj Sajeya" Goldie Sohel [47]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2021 66th Filmfare Awards Best Female Debut Jawaani Jaaneman Won [48]
2023 Bollywood Hungama Style Icons Most Stylish Breakthrough Talent (Female) — Nominated [49]
2024 Most Stylish Solid Performer of the Year — Won [50]

Notes

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  1. ^ See "Wallah" for the explanation of the surname

References

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  1. ^ a b Pal, Shubhodeep (28 February 2020). "The breakout star of 'Jawani Jaaneman': Why Aalia became Alaya F". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 23 March 2020. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  2. ^ "Alaya F gives a sneak peek into her birthday celebration, says 'Can't even turn 24 without a blooper'". Mid-day. Archived from the original on 28 October 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  3. ^ "Alaya F on turning 24: Next year will be career defining for me". Hindustan Times. 28 November 2021. Archived from the original on 28 November 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  4. ^ Sawhney, Anubha (1 June 2003). "Pooja Bedi: The siege within". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 16 May 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  5. ^ Sawhney, Anubha (1 June 2003). "Pooja Bedi: The siege within". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 6 January 2019. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
  6. ^ Time Pass: The Memoirs of Protima Bedi, Introduction, pp. 1–2. Biographical info: "Early Years"
  7. ^ This Above All - She had a lust for life Archived 9 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine The Tribune, 5 February 2000.
  8. ^ "What Kabir Bedi Said About Granddaughter Alaya Working With 'Seasoned Actors' In Jawaani Jaaneman". NDTV.com. 31 January 2020. Archived from the original on 29 March 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  9. ^ "Alaya F Opens Up On Her Parents, Pooja Bedi And Farhan Furniturewala's Divorce When She Was 5". BollywoodShaadis. 29 January 2020. Archived from the original on 2 February 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  10. ^ "NYFA Acting for Film Alum Alaia F Featured in Vogue India". New York Film Academy Blog. 5 July 2019. Archived from the original on 29 March 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  11. ^ "When Alaya F tearfully defended her 'upbringing', stood up for Pooja Bedi on reality show Maa Exchange: 'You can't say this about my mother'". 6 April 2023. Archived from the original on 15 August 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  12. ^ "When 14-year-old Alaya F stood up for mother Pooja Bedi". The Times of India. 6 April 2023. Archived from the original on 15 August 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  13. ^ "Alaya Furniturewalla's First Look from Jawaani Jaaneman Revealed". News 18. 4 January 2020. Archived from the original on 5 January 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  14. ^ "Pooja Bedi's daughter Alaya to make her debut with Jawani Janeman". India Today. Ist. Archived from the original on 17 June 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  15. ^ Hungama, Bollywood. "Jawaani Jaaneman Movie Review". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 31 January 2020. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  16. ^ "Jawaani Jaaneman Movie Review: It takes an Alaya F to help Saif Ali Khan come of age". India Today. Archived from the original on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  17. ^ "Receiving an award from her "Nana" Kabir Bedi tops Alaya Furniturewalla's "Best Moments" list". NDTV Movies. Archived from the original on 20 January 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  18. ^ "Alaya F joins Kartik Aaryan in Ekta Kapoor's Freddy, team welcomes her with a cake". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 22 August 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  19. ^ "The excitement mounts amongst the audiences to see Alaya F in Freddy". Mid Day. Archived from the original on 6 November 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  20. ^ "Freddy Movie Review: Kartik Aaryan impresses with Never-Seen-Before avatar, Alaya F is worth appreciating". News 18. 2 December 2022. Archived from the original on 2 December 2022. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  21. ^ Sharma, Devesh. "Kartik and Alaya's Freddy Movie Review - Filmfare". Filmfare. Archived from the original on 2 December 2022. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  22. ^ "Anurag Kashyap's Almost Pyaar with DJ Mohabbat flooded with praise!". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 5 February 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  23. ^ "Alaya F starrer 'Almost Pyaar with DJ Mohabbat' to premiere at the IMFF 2022!". ZEE News. Archived from the original on 16 November 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  24. ^ "Almost Pyaar with DJ Mohabbat Review: Alaya F, Karan Mehta's film is the perfect love saga for Gen Z but loses its plot". India Today. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  25. ^ "Almost Pyaar With DJ Mohabbat box office collection week 1: Anurag Kashyap's film tanks with just Rs 25 lakh". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 1 April 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  26. ^ "Alaya F bags the lead role in Ekta Kapoor's 'U Turn', will play a journalist in the thriller". Hindustan Times. 5 July 2021. Archived from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  27. ^ "Exclusive! Alaya F on U-Turn Remake: 'Been asked not to see original one at all until film is wrapped'". News18. 30 June 2022. Archived from the original on 3 July 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  28. ^ Gahlot, Deepa (28 April 2023). "U Turn Review: Bizarre!". Rediff.com. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  29. ^ "Bade Miyan Chote Miyan release date shifted". The Hindu. 9 April 2024. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  30. ^ "Bade Miyan Chote Miyan: Alaya F finally breaks silence on rumours of being part of Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff starrer: 'If I am doing that project...'". The Free Press Journal. 24 April 2023. Archived from the original on 18 October 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  31. ^ Kaushal, Sweta. "India Box Office: 'Bade Miyan Chote Miyan' Crosses $11 Million". Forbes. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  32. ^ a b "Alaya F announces Srikanth Bolla biopic with Rajkummar Rao; Film goes on floors today". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  33. ^ "Srikanth Review: Rajkummar Rao leads simplistic, honest, and earnest biopic". The Quint. 10 May 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  34. ^ "Lenskart brings eyewear for every mood with Alaya F in its latest campaign". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 9 November 2022. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  35. ^ "Nykaa Fashion's take on a 'million nakhras' with Alaya F". The Economic Times. 12 October 2022. Archived from the original on 9 November 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  36. ^ "The Times Most Desirable Women of 2020 - Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 8 June 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  37. ^ Nazir, Asjad (25 January 2023). "Top 30 under 30 Asians from the world of entertainment". Eastern Eye. Archived from the original on 29 January 2023. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  38. ^ "Alaya Furniturewala Career - NYFA". New York Film Academy. Archived from the original on 14 September 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  39. ^ "Saif Ali Khan says 'we are lucky to have found' Pooja Bedi's daughter Alaya Furniturewala for Jawani Jaaneman". Hindustan Times. 13 April 2019. Archived from the original on 2 June 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  40. ^ Khanna, Twinkle (8 August 2019). "Jawaani Jaaneman: Saif Ali Khan looks amused while Alaia F seems engrossed in THIS BTS pic from the sets". Pinkvilla. Archived from the original on 8 August 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  41. ^ "Kartik Aaryan and Alaya F wrap 'Freddy' shoot with a happy note". The Times of India. 30 September 2021. Archived from the original on 14 October 2022. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  42. ^ "Disney+ Hotstar to stream Kartik Aaryan and Alaya F's 'Freddy' from 2 December". Mint. Archived from the original on 12 November 2022. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  43. ^ "Anurag Kashyap's Almost Pyaar with DJ Mohabbat set for world premiere at Marrakech Film Festival!". The Indian Express. 16 November 2022. Archived from the original on 5 December 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  44. ^ "Alaya F wraps up her shoot for Ekta Kapoor's 'U-Turn' - TOI". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  45. ^ "Manushi Chhillar, Alaya F dance like perfection to It's The Time To Disco on set in UK". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 24 March 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  46. ^ "Alaya F facts". 24 March 2020. Archived from the original on 15 August 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  47. ^ "Aaj Sajeya song out now; Alaya F is a modern bride who loves sneakers in this new music video". India Today. Archived from the original on 30 March 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  48. ^ "Alaya F does a happy dance as she wins Filmfare Best Debut Award, Pooja Bedi says 'proud of you my baby girl'". Hindustan Times. 28 March 2021. Archived from the original on 28 March 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  49. ^ "Bollywood Hungama Style Icons 2023 Winners". Bollywood Hungama. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  50. ^ "Bollywood Hungama Style Icons 2024 Winners". Bollywood Hungama. 3 May 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
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