Archive · 6 Aug 2026
Batwara 1947: Kanikka Kapur laughs off Kiara Advani lookalike comparisons
Kanikka Kapur is a new actress whose poster for a big movie called Batwara 1947 made a lot of noise online.
When people saw her poster, many thought she was another famous actress named Kiara Advani.
Some people even guessed that a computer (using AI) had made the poster to make her look like Kiara.
Kanikka says she laughed a lot when she found out, and that she is used to being compared to Kiara.
She also shared that Kiara's makeup artist once said looking at her felt 'like Kiara only.'
Kanikka says she does not mind the comparisons because she thinks Kiara is really pretty.
She has read mixed comments — some people say they look alike and some say they do not.
To get her movie role, she had to do many auditions, including one in front of famous actor Aamir Khan, which made her very scared.
On her final tryout, actress Preity Zinta stood up and clapped for her and said she did really well.
Batwara 1947 opens in theatres on August 14, 2026.
Kanikka Kapur's Batwara 1947 character poster went viral after many social media users mistook her for Kiara Advani, while some speculated that AI was used to create the artwork.
Speaking to HT City and Variety India, Kapur said she laughed at the mix-up, is used to such comparisons, and has no problem with them because she finds Kiara Advani 'really pretty.'
Kapur said the comments have been mixed — many say she looks like Kiara, others say she doesn't — and that she now leaves it to the public to judge; the chatter was never discussed with the film's team.
She revealed her selection involved multiple audition rounds, including one at Aamir Khan Productions' office where Aamir Khan watched, and a final on-set audition where Preity Zinta stood up and clapped for her.
Directed by Rajkumar Santoshi and produced by Aamir Khan Productions, Batwara 1947 is based on Asghar Wajahat's 1989 play and releases in theatres on August 14, 2026.
- Who
- Actor Kanikka Kapur, who makes her Bollywood debut in Rajkumar Santoshi's period drama Batwara 1947 and was mistaken for Kiara Advani in her character poster.
- What
- Reacted to the viral mix-up in which her character poster led many social media users — and some AI speculation — to mistake her for Kiara Advani, and shared details of her audition process.
- When
- After the makers unveiled the new character posters; the film is set to release in theatres on August 14, 2026.
- Where
- India; Kapur spoke in separate interviews with HT City (Hindustan Times) and Variety India.
- Why
- Fans noticed an uncanny resemblance between Kapur's look in the poster and Kiara Advani, leading to widespread lookalike comments and speculation that AI was used.
Natural Lookalike View
AI Artwork Suspicion
Why the poster resembles Kiara Advani
Natural Lookalike View
Many social media users are convinced Kanikka Kapur naturally looks like Kiara Advani, with comments such as 'I really thought it was Kiara Advani on the poster' and 'She exactly looks like Kiara Advani.'
AI Artwork Suspicion
Other users speculated that artificial intelligence was used to make Kapur look like Kiara in the poster, with one comment describing the industry as 'lazy' and 'shameful.'
Whether the resemblance is real
Natural Lookalike View
'A lot of people say I look like her,' Kapur said, recalling that Kiara's makeup artist reportedly once said, 'Oh my God, it just feels like Kiara only.'
AI Artwork Suspicion
Kapur also noted that 'a lot of people say I don't (look like her)' and that she has read mixed comments, adding that she now leaves it to the public to judge.
- Film
- Batwara 1947 (originally announced as Lahore 1947)
- Director
- Rajkumar Santoshi
- Producer
- Aamir Khan Productions
- Based On
- 1989 play 'Jis Lahore Nai Vekhya, O Jamya E Nai' by Asghar Wajahat
- Cast
- Sunny Deol, Preity Zinta, Shabana Azmi, Ali Fazal, Karan Deol, Abhimanyu Singh, Kanikka Kapur
- Release Date
- August 14, 2026
- Interviews
- HT City (Hindustan Times) and Variety India
- Kapur's Prior Credits
- Ek Duje Ke Vaaste 2, Immature (Season 2), Tippu, Dono Modern Parivar, A Gift Of Love: Sifar, Murderbad
