Remember the little girl who grabbed everyone’s attention in the funeral scene of URI: The Surgical Strike? You will be shocked if you look at her pictures today! The child actor Riva Arora is best known for her crying scene in the 2019 movie URI and also as the young Gunjan in the 2020 movie Gunjan Saxena.
Riva Arora is a social media sensation with an IG follower base of 11.4 million which is handled by her mother. In 2022, her sudden change in looks and her age-inappropriate roles has been a topic of controversy among the netizens. In this article, we are going to disclose all the controversies and everything related to the budding actress who is no longer visioned as a child.
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Riva Arora age
According to sources, Riva Arora’s age is currently only 14. When the controversies were at its peak she was merely 12, not even a teenager. Her date of birth is February 1, 2010. Riva was born and brought up in New Delhi and her mother’s name is Nisha Arora who happens to be an advocate. Her height is 5’2”.
As per the video uploaded by Riva on Father’s Day 2021 on her YouTube channel, she lost her father when she was barely a child. The cause of the death of Riva Arora father is a leg infection. Riva also has a sister.

Riva Arora with here mother Nisha Arora. Riva Arora/Instagram
Take a look at some of the interesting facts about Riva Arora
- For her debut role in the movie Rockstar starring Ranbir Kapoor, Riva Arora was selected when she was merely 1 and a half years old.
- She was into modeling and has been featured in several TV commercials with brands like Biba Clothing, Flipkart, LG, etc.
- Riva won the title of ‘Miss Mother’s Pride’ as she has been an active child who participated in her school’s co-curricular activities.
- Riva has been a part of the short movies Rakshak and Naina.
- Riva Arora movies include Rockstar, URI, Gunjan Saxena, Sri Devi’s last film – Mom, Bharat, Kaali Khuhi, Section 375, and a few others.
- Riva Arora web series are Bandish Bandits, Pavitra Bhagya, TVF Tripling, White Matter, and Mere Papa, Hero Hiralal.
- Arora’s last film was with Rakul Preet Singh in Chhatriwali.
- She has also been part of a few music videos which have led to a few controversies.
Netizens went frenzy when Riva was seen in an Instagram reel video with the then 38-year-old Karan Kundrra
Riva Arora, who was a minor back then, was seen romanticizing the Gumraah and MTV Roadies fame actor in a bar. Though the video was deleted later, social media users were agitated by seeing the child with the grown-up man.
Netizens could not accept this and it did not go down well. They slammed the parents of Riva for allowing her to take up a project that wasn’t appropriate for the young girl.
The reel with Riva was a promotional video for Kundrra’s new music video, Akhiyan.
The video shows Riva with a man, who is likely to be her ‘boyfriend’, making tea in a kitchen. The scene then moves to her drinking with another man, played by Karan Kundrra in a bar while she is texting the former.
It gets worse… here’s a current video that went viral in the media of #KaranKundrra and some other guy doing a “relationship reel” on Instagram with #rivaarora this is vile because SHE IS 12!! HE IS 38! 🤮🤢
Look at the big heels they put her in to make her taller 😳 pic.twitter.com/lxUhuibs0S
— Maha (@MahaAliRehman) October 18, 2022
This was not the first time she has been featured in music videos with grown-up men
Earlier she has been featured in music videos where she was seen dancing with Mika Singh who was then 45 years old.
Both Karan Kundrra and Mika Singh had to face the anger of social media users for romancing the child actress.
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Netizens’ angry reaction to sexualizing Riva Arora stirred up the internet
A 12-year-old romancing a 38-year-old in itself sounds so dark and uncomfortable which makes it difficult to understand how the parents of a child and a grown man agree to do something like this. How has it all come down to fame and money?#rivaarora
— Mansi Yadav (@oyeeMansi) October 21, 2022
yes her parents are responsible but karan and the other guy are equally in this. they should’ve just not accepted this knowing a 12 yrs old is in here?
and abt the last line there are a lot of child actors in the industry not just riva.
— heer🌪 (@insomniafallss) October 13, 2022
Netizens have also accused her parents of injecting her with synthetic growth hormones to make her look more mature in order to groom her for Bollywood
According to reports, her mother has also been accused of getting Arora breast augmentation.
Just found out Riva Arora’s mother injected her with growth hormones that are usually given to fatten up poulty at age 11 so that she can grow her Instagram audience and get roles in films.
We are hitting levels of Kaliyug that shouldn’t even be possible.
— Arjun* (@mxtaverse) October 19, 2022
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How it is possible..?? How can any mother cruel and selfish ?
Apparently this girl (Riva arora)is just 12 and has been given steroids by her own mother.
Yaar Urduhood mein chance ke choti bacchi ka bacchan chin lete hai. pic.twitter.com/eG3okm7Sxg— Sumit Maurya (@Sanatan_Sumit77) October 14, 2022
Riva Arora’s parents, particularly her mother have been highly criticised
Following the backlash after appearing in promotional videos with much older actors like Karan Kundrra (38 at the time) and Mika Singh (45 at the time), many criticized Riva’s parents, particularly her mother, accusing them of exploiting her youth for fame and success.
The criticism intensified when users alleged that Riva’s appearance and roles made her look older than her real age. Many found this highly unsettling.
Take a look at some photos of Riva Arora when she was apparently 12-year-old
Riva Arora is very active on social media. She has accounts on numerous social media platforms including Instagram, Facebook, & Snapchat. She also has a YouTube channel where she uploads pranks and vlogs.
Riva Arora has become the richest young actor in India for the year 2024
According to a report by GQ India, Riva Arora’s estimated net worth stands at approximately ₹8.2 crore. Sounds unbelievable? We agree. This has not only made her rich but also given her the title of the richest young actor in India.
She has overtaken Sara Arjun, daughter of acclaimed South Indian actor Raj Arjun, who previously held a net worth of around ₹10 crore. However, Sara’s transition to adulthood, having turned 18 in June, has shifted her out of the child actor category.
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In June 2024, Riva purchased a brand new Hyundai SUV and in 2023 she bought a swanky black Audi Q3 worth Rs 40 lakh after reaching 10 million followers. No wonder she got the title of richest young actor.
As per Riva Arora and her family, she has turned 17 in the year 2024
In an interview with DNA, Riva Arora addressed the controversy surrounding her age, stating that she chooses to focus on the love she receives rather than the criticism. Responding to the backlash, Riva said,
“What do I even say to that? I don’t have anything to say to people who are doubting my age or what I am doing. The people who are giving me love are enough for me.”
Based on her comments and recent reports, it is now indicated that Riva has turned 17 in 2024, clarifying some of the confusion around her age.
What’s your opinion on this mind-boggling change of a child actor? Leave your comments below.
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