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In an exclusive interview, Aditi Rao Hydari shares her love for short films, her recent collaborations on Heeramandi, Gandhi Talks, and Lioness, and the power of cinematic experimentation that resonates with audiences.
Actress Aditi Rao Hydari discusses the art of short films, her approach to storytelling, and her latest projects, including Heeramandi, Gandhi Talks, and Lioness, at MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2024.
At the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2024, actress Aditi Rao Hydari graced the Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films panel as a jury member, bringing her refined cinematic sensibility to the table. Renowned for her nuanced portrayals and dedication to impactful storytelling, Aditi opened up about her approach to short films, emphasizing the importance of narratives that resonate and linger in viewers’ minds. 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 highlights the enduring power of storytelling—whether in brief yet evocative short films or in richly layered cinematic explorations across cultures and time.
When asked what she values most in short films, Aditi explained her criteria, highlighting the importance of storytelling that leaves an impression. “What I look for in a short film is that it should be true to the format and it should tell a story that stays with me. For me, I feel, the more I feel that it leaves me with the imagination of what happens next, or takes me into a world and keeps me engaged in that world and yet leaves me with that sort of memory and resonance of the possibilities that might unfold in that world. I think that’s what I look for in a short film.”
Aditi also spoke about the power of short films to push boundaries in Indian storytelling, saying, “I think it’s wonderful because of the format of the short film are so complete. It’s like in 15 minutes the kinds of stories that emerge, the kinds of filmmakers, the voices, the worlds that we are taken into. It’s not the time, it’s just the way the film is done. And I think I’m always looking for a lot of creative people who start with short films, whether actors or DOPs or directors or editors because that is the access they have at that point, so they start with a short film, but sometimes it is so wonderful and so complete and almost larger than life in the world that it’s creating for me, that’s what I always take away. Because there’s one of the films over here, I still think about it and how wonderfully it’s been 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 recounted, “I think we have some incredible filmmakers in this country. Sanjay sir is truly one of my favourites. I love him, and he is magical in every way. Everything about him is artistry. I think for me, just the fact that he’s such a complete artist is very inspiring and also that he will never, ever be even point five percent short of what he envisions and what he dreams to create and he puts every bit of resource that is available from human beings 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 romanticism and heroism in a painful farewell. “For me, I think 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’s romanticism and poetry to it, but at the same time there is also a heroic and very painful end 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 devoid of dialogue. On her choice to be part of such a distinctive project, she noted, “Silent films are not made that often. I’ve seen a couple. From India I’ve seen Pushpaka, I was completely taken by that film. So the moment I heard that a silent film was being made, I really wanted to do it. Also I think because of the people involved with the film—the director had lived with this story for many 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 Rahman sir being 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 must carry the entire narrative, “I feel like a silent film is crafted in a way that contextually and situationally by the characters being there and being in that frame, the story moves forward just by the things happening around them.”
Aditi also delved into her character Mehak in Lioness, a film set across two timelines showcasing the lives of two British-Punjabi women a century apart. Speaking on the appeal of this project, she said, “See, first, it’s a prestige project. It’s the first official BFI and NFDC production, which has been in the offing for a very long time—this marriage of two, Indo-British, kinds of production because it’s about the suffragette movement and it is told through the lives of these two women. I feel like Mehak, though it is a period set-up, there is a relatability to her, and the fact that she’s an active participant in the change that she makes in her life is what drew me to what she was doing. And if I were to say very flippantly, when I was told 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 an evolving of a character in a story which I found very exciting and interesting.”