Aditi Rao Hydari
, who was in town to attend the closing ceremony of the 29th
International Film Festival
on Tuesday, had a candid chat with us over a cup of coffee. “Kolkata is home to some incredible cinema, so I feel this sacred energy here as an actor. The city has a positive vibe that one cannot miss. My life has a lot of
Bengali influences
, so I feel comfortable and extremely loved whenever I come to this city,” she told us, adding, “Bangla cinema has always been spoken about in the world.
I grew up watching Bangla films and I must admit that my taste for films has a lot to do with that learning.” She also spoke about her connection to Bengali cuisine, how
Mani Ratnam
helped shape her career and more. Excerpts:
‘BANGLA IS SUCH A SWEET LANGUAGE’
Speaking about the Bengali influences in her life, Aditi said, “Our cook at home is Bengali, and so was my childhood nanny, Nomi di. So, I love Bengali dishes such as Sorshe bata maach, Patla macher jhol, Mochar ghonto, shukto, chorchori and many more. I had aloo posto and bhaat for lunch; it tasted heavenly. I also love saris from Kolkata, the cotton ones – Dhaniakhali. I don’t have time to go sari shopping this time, but I’m going to buy ghee to add in the shukto I have at home. Everyone at home loves notun gurer rosogolla, so I’m buying that too.” When asked if she can speak Bangla, the actress said, “I can understand it, but I’m not a fluent speaker. Nomi di used to keep telling me, ‘Tatari koro, taratari khaoa sesh koro’ (laughs). Bangla is such a sweet language.”
‘I’M A DIRECTOR’S ACTOR’
Speaking about her approach to acting, Aditi said, “I am 100 % a director’s actor, but at times I do ask questions so that I can internalize the character. The director has a vision for the film and we actors just support that, so I prefer to listen to my director. But great directors give you room to explore and ask questions, make mistakes. And I feel it is good, as you learn from it.”
She added, “As an actor I don’t judge the characters I play, but at the same time I must be responsible for what I do on screen, as those films are watched by a lot of people. We need to feel responsible for what we put up on the big screen.”
Bengali films are so rich in content. The industry boasts of directors such as Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak, Mrinal Sen, Rituparno Ghosh… the list is endless. I’ve also watched Bengali films by many contemporary directors
It was wonderful to work with Bumba da (Prosenjit Chatterjee) in Jubilee. He is just amazing! He was the first one to be on the set and the last to leave. A true front bencher, I must say
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I’ve come up from a mixed family, heritage, and lineage, whatever you call it. And I feel lucky to be an actor of Indian cinema, which is so diverse in nature. There are so many stories to be told in different languages
I’m very proud to be a Mani Ratnam student; I became an actor because of him. I enjoyed doing two films with him so much. Cinema is magical and I love magic. I want to be part of it all my life
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Rhythm, musicality, silences and finding music in silence are things I’ve grown up with. My teacher used to tell me dance is not just about showing a mudra, it’s about how you use the silence between two movements. To me, acting is about finding the music in the silences
I couldn’t be part of dada’s (Arindam Sil) film Har Har Byomkesh due to date problems. But if he offers me a Bengali film again, I’ll be honoured to be part of it.
When your car drives to a film festival, you know the energy is full of cinema and that is exactly what I felt when I came to Nandan. Everybody here loves cinema so that energy is infectious. KIFF is such a prestigious film festival of the country. It is an honour to be part of prestigious film festivals as you are surrounded by artistic people with a vision and great filmmakers.
Awards are huge inspirations for me. I feel like a little child. It’s so exciting when you bag an award. When you get that love through an award it is indeed fascinating and inspires you more to do good, better work. It is lovely for your work to get recognized.
I have never lived in Kolkata, but my mother, who is a classical musician, used to visit the city. So, I used to come here with my mother.
Everybody should be a child forever in their heart. I get teased a lot by everybody that I am still a five-year-old child within, and I’ll never grow up. That’s fine, as I learnt that from my nani (grandmother). That’s the only way to be in life. I guess I love the company of little kids and animals the most, as they are the purest and unafraid of what they say. So, I am a five-year-old forever.
Pix: Samik Sen
English (US) ·