Actress Aditi Rao Hydari who essayed the role of Mehrunissa in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Padmaavat’ has gained a lot of appreciation for her small yet powerful role. The support that everyone gave the whole team of the film gave ample strength to overcome any kind of difficulty. She recalls her first day of the shoot. She also revealed that she cannot do research, once the camera turns on it’s all about feelings.
Aditi Rao Hydari said, “When there is honesty, then somewhere there is a good feeling about things. The whole world can bring you down but somehow I feel that the strength of love and positivity always overpowers anything negative. I can say with conviction that this thing was very much with the film. The support we got from media to fans was so amazing and that at the end of the day, it gives you ample strength to overcome any kind of difficulty.”
She further added, “I still remember the day when I went to meet Sanjay sir, he informed me that the role of Mehrunissa is a special one and everybody who has read the script had asked him that who is playing Mehru. Now when the film is finally in theatres, I understand what he actually meant. I really feel blessed because it was Jaya Bachchan who spoke to Sanjay Sir about me and it was she who suggested him that I should play this part. Though I never really had any kind of help or support, I always feel that there are guardian angels who look after me.”
Talking about roles the actress said, “I am not a trained actor and I cannot do researches on my own. Once the camera turns on, it’s all about feelings. It’s all about being in that moment and believing in that moment. I don’t have the wherewithal to do research on my own. The only thing that I know is to trust my director and completely believe in his vision and the world that he has created. I cannot research feelings. I feel these things are very personal and it was the biggest reward or award or whatever it is. She called me and basically, she said Dil Se Dua that you stay as pure as you are with your talent, which shows in your eyes. I am not going to elaborate any more than this. It means a lot coming from her.”
She further added, “The thing is that I mix it up. I have done ‘Murder 3’ and ‘Bhoomi’ and then a ‘Fitoor’ and now ‘Padmaavat’. I respond instinctively to scripts and directors. I always feel that if Jennifer Lawrence or Natalie Portman can do just two scenes in a film only because the director is great, then why can’t I do the same? It’s better that I stand up to the choices that I want to make hoping that one day people will stop using such terms.”
“Sometimes the films deserve not to work only because they’re not good. I can be very honest about my films and say that it did not work. Honestly, the entire unit is responsible for a film’s success or failure. Yes, it upsets me and I only wish it had worked,” she added.
Aditi RaoHydari talks about #MeeToo, she said, “Yes, it should happen with the purpose of change and not for mudslinging. The main problem is that we all are afraid and look the other way to make sure that our career goes smoothly but we should make it sure for our future and for other girls. The purpose is only to ensure that there is strength and equality in the system so that we can all work towards making great cinema and not indulge in work-related barters that are dependent upon misuse of power. It’s all about empowering and bringing about change which should be dealt with dignity.”
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