The makers of Alias Rukmini introduced Aafiya Sayed as the lead actress opposite Nithiin. Aafiya, who made her Hindi debut with Prem Keetanu on October 2, 2026, plays a strict teacher in this romantic drama. The film, presented by Nani, is set to release in theatres on December 4, 2026.
The makers of Nithiin’s Alias Rukmini have unveiled a special video introducing Aafiya Sayed as the film’s female lead. The actress may already be familiar to Hindi film audiences, having made her Bollywood debut with Prem Keetanu earlier this month. Directed by Murali Kanth Devasoth and presented by Nani under Unanimous Productions, the upcoming romantic drama features Aafiya as Rukmini, a strict schoolteacher whose students call her Devil, Hitler and Homework Police. As the character introduction is trending on social media, netizens are curious to know about the actress’s family background, education and journey in cinema.
Aafiya Sayed is an emerging actress who is making her Telugu cinema debut with Alias Rukmini, starring Nithiin. The makers recently introduced her as the female lead and unveiled a glimpse of her character, Rukmini. She previously made her Hindi film debut with Prem Keetanu, released on October 2, 2026, opposite Veer Pahariya. In the romantic comedy-drama, Aafiya plays Suhani, a college student caught in a complicated love triangle. With Alias Rukmini, she is taking another step in her acting career by entering the Telugu film industry.
Aafiya comes from the prominent Nadiadwala family, which is a popular name in the the Hindi film industry. Her mother, Afeefa Nadiadwala Sayed, is a film producer who ventured into production with the Marathi film Girlfriend in 2019. Her father is Arshad Fakruddin. Aafiya is also the niece of filmmaker and producer Sajid Nadiadwala, who heads Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment. Her great-grandfather, AK Nadiadwala.
The Nadiadwala family, originally from Nadiad in Gujarat’s Kheda district, has been associated with the Hindi film industry for three generations. The family’s film legacy began with AK Nadiadwala, followed by his son Sulieman Nadiadwala and his grandson, filmmaker and producer Sajid Nadiadwala.
Born and raised in Mumbai, Maharashtra, Aafiya celebrates her birthday on June 22. She completed her Bachelor of Mass Media degree, specialising in Advertising, Marketing and Communications, between 2020 and 2023. Before pursuing acting, she worked in the corporate sector. Her experience included an influencer marketing internship in 2023–24 and a role as a Senior Public Relations Associate at Mumbai-based White Marque Solutions.
In Alias Rukmini, Aafiya plays Nithiin's wife. Jomon T John ISC handles cinematography, Vijai Bulganin composes the music, Avinash Kolla oversees production design, and Srujana Adusumilli is the editor. Alias Rukmini is scheduled to release in theatres on December 4, 2026.