Aditi Rao Hydari on Heeramandi's impressive finale: 'It was romantic, heroic and painfully beautiful'

Last updated:Nov 12, 2024 5:16 PM IST

In an exclusive interview, Aditi Rao Hydari shares her love for short films, her recent collaborations with Heeramandi, Gandhi Talks and Lioness, and the power of cinematic experimentation that resonates with audiences.

At the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2024, actress Aditi Rao Hydari was present as a judge in the Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films panel, bringing her refined cinematic sensibility to the table. Known for her nuanced performances and dedication to impactful storytelling, Aditi talked about her approach to short films, highlighting the importance of stories that resonate and stick in the minds of viewers. In an exclusive interview with News18 Showsha, she shared her experiences evaluating emerging cinematic voices, her passion for projects that push creative boundaries, and reflections on her latest works including Heeramandi, Gandhi Talks and Lioness. With each project, Aditi emphasizes the enduring power of storytelling – whether in short but evocative short films, or in richly layered cinematic explorations across cultures and time.

When asked what she appreciates most in short films, Aditi explained her criteria, emphasizing the importance of telling stories that leave an impression. “What I look for in a short film is that it should be true to the format and tell a story that stays with me. For me, I feel like, the more I feel like it leaves me with the imagination of what happens next, or takes me into a world and keeps me involved in that world and yet leaves me with that kind of memory and resonance of the possibilities that are available. could unfold in that world. I think that’s what I’m looking for in a short film.”

Aditi also spoke about the power of short films to push boundaries in Indian storytelling and said, “I love it because the short film format is so complete. It’s like 15 minutes, the kind of stories that emerge, the kind of filmmakers, the voices, the worlds we’re drawn into. It’s not the moment, it’s just the way the movie was made. And I think I’m always looking for a lot of creative people who are starting with short films, whether they’re actors or DOPs or directors or editors, because that’s the access they have at that point, so they start with a short film , but sometimes it’s so wonderful and so complete and almost bigger than life in the world it creates for me, that’s what I always take away. Because one of the movies is here, I still think about it and how wonderfully it was made.”

Reflecting on her recent collaboration with Sanjay Leela Bhansali in Heeramandi, Aditi shared her admiration for the filmmaker and the memorable moments on set. She said: “I think we have some incredible filmmakers in this country. Sanjay sir is truly one of my favorites. I love him, and he is magical in every way. Everything about him is artistry. I think that for me the mere fact that he is such a complete artist is very inspiring and also that he will never, ever fall one five percent short of what he has in mind and what he dreams of achieving. create, and that he uses every bit of the available resources. available from people to objects to light to everything, to create that vision.” She highlighted the poignant final scenes of her character Bibbojaan in Heeramandi, where Bhansali’s direction brought out both the romance and heroism in a painful farewell. “For me, I the end of Heeramandi, where Bibbojaan met a very heroic end, I think that in itself was very beautiful. And it was difficult because there is romance and poetry in it, but at the same time there is also heroism and a very painful ending to the character. It was completely his vision, and it was also so incredible to be the vehicle through which he created.

In Gandhi Talks, a silent film directed by Kishor Belekar, Aditi explores a unique cinematic space without dialogue. Regarding her choice to be part of such a distinctive project, she noted: “Silent films are not made that often. I’ve seen a few. I saw Pushpaka from India, I was completely captivated by that film. So from the moment I heard that a silent film was being made, I really wanted to do it. I also think that because of the people involved in the film, the director had been living with this story for years. I think he was very inspired and he wanted to make this film. I think that in itself was one of the reasons, and it was also the cast and Mr. Rahman who were on board. Vijay Sethupathi and Aravind Swamy are both actors I admire. They were already on board. I was looking forward to working with them.” Aditi explained the challenges of acting without words, where expressions and body language have to carry the entire story. “I feel that a silent film is made in a way that is contextual and situational the characters are put there and because they are in that frame, the story moves forward just because of the things that are happening around them.

Aditi also delved into her character Mehak in Lioness, a film set across two timelines and depicting the lives of two British-Punjabi women a century apart. Speaking about the appeal of this project, she said: “Look, first of all, it is a prestige project. It’s the first official BFI and NFDC production, which has been a long time coming – this marriage of two, Indo-British productions, because it’s about the suffragette movement and it’s told through the lives of these two women. . I feel like Mehak, even though it’s a period setup, there’s a relatability to her, and the fact that she’s an active participant in the change she’s making in her life is what attracted me to what she did. And if I were to put it very lightly, when I heard about this project, I thought I was going to play the princess. So when I was told that I was playing Mehak, it was her agency and her active participation and the development of a character in a story that I found very exciting and interesting.”

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