Every character that Aditi Rao Hydari has portrayed has left a lasting impression, offering something unique for audiences to take away. From playing an orphan who falls in love with Mammootty’s character in Prajapathi, to a mute Kathak dancer in Sufiyum Sujatayam, the wronged Malika-i-Jahan in Padmaavat and the courtesan Bibbojaan in Heeramandi, Hydari has consistently brought alive women who are a powerful mix of grace, resilience and vulnerability.
In her latest release Parivarik Manoranjan, she steps into an entirely different avatar as Helen, a full-time house help, showcasing yet another facet of her versatility. Whether through period dramas or rooted, slice-of-life storytelling, Aditi has continued to portray layered, compelling women who leave a lasting impact.
Aditi says, “Sometimes I wonder, why does one have to keep insisting on the ‘female perspective.’ The fact that the female perspective has been so suppressed is why you have to keep pushing for it. I wish it wasn’t so effortful,” says the actor.
Aditi recently saw the release of the slice-of-life film Parivarik Manoranjan, where she shares the screen with Pankaj Tripathi, establishing their first on-screen collaboration. Hydari plays the role of a full-time house help named Helen, who works at Ranjan Dubey’s (Tripathi) home and attracts eyeballs from those living around them about their relationship dynamics. “This rooted and simple atmosphere is something I rarely get to be a part of. Also, I never thought I’d get an opportunity to work with Pankaj sir. It was something I just grabbed,” she shares.
Speaking of what she really wants in her career, she says, “One is to always be a curious kid on the set. And to leave my ego outside. Preferably not to have one, though it’s natural. I don’t like to think of myself at that point. I want to surrender to the director’s vision…It’s very important to be present. But to be present, need to be a 5-year-old again because I like to be engaged.”
In addition to playing characters that reflect the stories and the women she believes in, Hydari has always spoken on the need for women to occupy more space in the industry. While she acknowledges that the female perspective is important; she adds that “the sad thing is that it’s important.” “It should just be natural, right? Both perspectives are important because both genders make up this world.”
She explains that the way a female character is treated on-screen says enough about her value in the maker’s eyes. “Certain directors write the women in their films so beautifully that you don’t question what position a female has in their own lives like Parivarik Manuranjan is one such movie and Helen is one such part that is so beautifully written and showcases. She questions, “Do you have a story or do you have sensationalism?” and she concludes with, “How can there be a love story between a man and a woman where the girl is just treated like an object or a replaceable commodity?… There need to be more balanced stories in the world.”
