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Meet Rockstar Ranbir's impulsive co-star
Not many people would remember Sonam Kapoor's shy and timid aunt in Delhi 6. But Yeh Saali Zindagi corrected that for Aditi Rao Hydari.
She was anything but shy in the film, with her amorous scenes with co-star Arunoday Singh becoming the talk of the town. The actress, who received great response from the industry and fans for the performance, is basking in the glory.
In a frank conversation with Sonil Dedhia, Aditi -- who was a little nervous about the interview -- talks about life after YSZ, the rumours about her kissing scenes and her upcoming film Rockstar, starring Ranbir Kapoor.
We hear there is an interesting story on how you bagged Rockstar. Can you share it with us?
I was called to meet (the film's director) Imtiaz Ali for the role of a Kashmiri girl. When I went to meet him, he told me that he had already cast someone else, but he also mentioned that he would love to work with me. I will never forget something that he mentioned. He said that I had a lot of tehzeeb (manners). As I was leaving his office, he told me there was another part of a young journalist, but he didn't want someone soft and delicate like me.
Almost two months after meeting him I got a call from the casting director that Imtiaz wanted to meet me again and test me for the role. When I went in, Ranbir was also present and I auditioned. The rest, as they say, is history.
The role that I am playing in Rockstar is a television reporter, who is young and fresh out of college. It's her first job and has a show dedicated to her. She follows the Ranbir's character wherever he goes. My character is impulsive and very vulnerable.
'The day Yeh Saali Zindagi released, I got almost 1,000 friend requests on Facebook'
Your performance in YSZ received fantastic response. Has the feeling sunk in?
Yes, the feeling has sunk in, but I live in my little dreamland. There have been days when I go out people start recognising give me compliments for my performance and I get thrilled for some time. Then life is back to normal. It feels nice when people talk about your work, because, at the end of the day, any actor wants that to happen.
What was the best compliment you got?
It came from Irrfan Khan. He told me that I have a very lovely aura and am surrounded by positivity. He told me to stay that way and not get struck by stardom. It was really sweet of him.
How has your life changed after YSZ?
My Facebook life has changed. Out of all the social networking sites available, I am active only on Facebook. It's gone completely out of control. The day the movie released I got almost a 1,000 friend requests and 500 messages. I am quite new to the concept of social networking, so I had to create a separate page so that I could take in so many requests.
They have all loved my performance and I haven't received any vulgar messages. This has added a lot of responsibility, as I have to do better in my future work.
'I almost didn't do Yeh Saali Zindaagi'
Tell us about your early days.
I was born in Hyderabad. My parents divorced when I was small. I grew up with my mother in Delhi. I went to a different kind of boarding school where the agenda was not just academics. The environment was completely different.
I was not allowed to watch Hindi films; my mother thought these films were not meant for kids. I am glad because I learned a lot of things I wouldn't have learned. I learned Bharat Natyam. I used to sing. As a kid I was exposed to a lot of things, which is helping me now.
How did YSZ happen?
I almost didn't do Yeh Saali Zindaagi, as I wasn't sure about the dates. I had gone to Sri Lanka for a TV commercial shoot where I got a call, but unfortunately I couldn't leave immediately due to prior commitments. As soon as I was back I called them but the auditions were over. I felt a little bad, but two days later they called me back and two hours later I was sitting in the producer's office. Luck and destiny does play a important role in our lives.
What made you say yes to the film?
What I loved about Yeh Saali Zindagi was that the two lovers have this very raw physical love for each other. It's innocent love where I get married at an early age and have a kid when I am still confused about my own life.
How different was YSZ from Delhi-6?
I had a miniscule role in Delhi-6. I am fortunate that people noticed me, but I wasn't taken seriously. Yeh Saali Zindagi gave me the opportunity to free my arms and do what I wanted to do.
'It is practical to show a couple kissing rather than dancing and singing'
Were you apprehensive about the kissing scenes?
Not at all. I had complete faith in Sudhir Mishra, and if you see the film, it is so aesthetically shot. There is no vulgarity. Also, if we are showing a couple in love, it is practical to show them kissing at a moment when they should be kissing rather than have them dancing and singing.
You mentioned that you grew up in a very controlled environment; how did your mother react to the film?
Before the release, my mother called me and asked about the film, as the media had made a big issue of the 22 kisses. I told her not to worry. When the film was released, my nani (maternal grandmother) saw the film and came out saying it was fabulous. My mother told me she was crying after seeing the lovemaking scene and she thought it was so beautifully shot.
Tell us about the experience of working with Sudhir Mishra.
I had a wish list of directors and he was one of the directors I always wanted to work with. I was always fascinated with his movies, as they have always been different. The first day when I went on the sets I was a little scared as I was the only one on the cast who didn't know him. He came to know about it and started chatting with me like a friend and that helped me a lot.
As a director, he is so focussed on his work that in spite of so the chaos around him, his head is crystal clear. He knows exactly what he wants. He will come and explain the shots, but will give you the freedom to what you want to do.
'I am ready to experiment'
What are the moments you will always remember from the YSZ experience?
The kid, who plays my son in the movie, made me go mad. He would often come and scream in my ears; he found it funny. I am very patient with kids, but this kid was all around harassing everyone on the sets, including his parents. Maybe that's the reason he is such a good actor.
Both your movies have shown you as a traditional Indian girl. Don't you think it will serotype your image?
I am an actress and will do what the role demands. I can be a regular girl in shorts and T-shirts and also fit into that traditional girl look.
You can say I have the girl-next-door look, but that doesn't mean that I am only open to offers that expect me to wear traditional dresses. I am ready to experiment and maybe with Rockstar coming up that image will change.
'I have to love the character that I'm going to play'
What do you look for when you're picking roles?
The first thing that I look for is that I have to be able to relate to my character on some level, so that I can get more out of it, and eventually become the character. I have to love the character that I'm going to play. Even if it's wicked or quirky, I have to love that wicked or a quirky person.
Does it excite you when you know that it's going to be a difficult-to-play character?
Definitely. Who doesn't love challenges? I think any actor would love something with more challenges. It's boring to play the same type of characters.
Which direction do you see yourself going in term of films and filmmakers?
I may sound a little repetitive, but I would want to do films with good directors. I would want to do films where I am an integral part of the film. It doesn't matter whether it's a big film or small film. I would love to work with people like Mishra, Anurag Kashyap, Ashutosh Gowariker and Sanjay Leela Bhansali , for whom creativity really matters.