Aditi Rao Hydari talks about working with Mani Ratnam, her upcoming films and shares her secret to staying beautiful

Aditi Rao Hydari hasn’t had a Hindi film release since Daas Dev in early 2018, however that doesn’t mean the actor has been out of work. In fact, Aditi has been busier than before and her last three films, Sammohanam (debut in Telugu), Chekka Chivantha Vaanam (Tamil) and Antariksham 9000 KMPH (Telugu) were significant releases, and she also bagged two awards for her Telugu debut.

The actor has established a strong foothold in the South Indian industries after a successful run in Bollywood. Talking about her journey so far on the sidelines of a Kohler event, the actor says, “I am the kind of person who is very instinctive and intuitive. I follow my heart and if I believe in something, I am in it completely and nothing can stop me from doing whatever I can. For me, credibility, dignity and intent are very important. Intent is important for doing good and memorable work, and this helps in being credible.”

Aditi, who will be seen next in the Tamil thriller Psycho, also opened up about her current work and why she feels indebted to filmmaker Mani Ratnam. “After Mani Sir’s Kaatru Veliyadai, the entire South Indian industry opened up for me. At the moment, I am working in Dhanush’s second directorial, opposite him, and I am working with Mysskin Sir (director of Shanmugha Raja). He is an incredible director, and I never thought I would work with him, but I am. I am also trying to spend more time in Mumbai to get a Hindi film this year,” reveals Aditi.

Most of Aditi’s roles have embodied strong female characters, be it as Leela in Kaatru Veliyadai, Mehrunnisa in Padmaavat or Parvathi in Chekka Chivantha Vaanam. When asked what she thinks of the roles she has portrayed, the actor offers, “How long can you look at a beautiful face? I feel beauty, fitness, singing, dancing, all these are added bonuses. My main job is to portray the character. Mani Sir and Sanjay (Leela Bhansali) Sir offer that kind of space. Mani Sir always asks why we call a girl a heroine. He says, ‘She is a character with a mind and heart, with a soul and with decisions, don’t make her a cardboard cutout’.”

Nobody can ignore the fact that the actor looks gorgeous on and off-screen, so what’s her secret? “Not smoking, eating on time, sleeping on time, drinking lots of water and working with the best DOPs (directors of photography),” she signs off.