Aditi Rao Hydari
Indian actress From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Aditi Rao Hydari (born 28 October 1978) is an Indian actress who appears in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu films. Born into the Tyabji–Hydari family, she made her acting debut with the Malayalam film Prajapathi (2006). Hydari gained recognition for her performances in Delhi-6 (2009) and Yeh Saali Zindagi (2011), winning the Screen Award for Best Supporting Actress for the latter.[2] She appeared in the musical romantic drama Rockstar (2011), the thriller Murder 3 (2013), and the action film Wazir (2016). In 2018, she featured in the period drama Padmaavat, which emerged as a major commercial success and earned her the IIFA Award for Best Supporting Actress.[3]
Aditi Rao Hydari | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Rao Hydari in 2023 | |
| Born | 28 October 1978[1] Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Spouses | |
| Mother | Vidya Rao |
| Relatives | Kiran Rao (cousin) |
| Family | Tyabji–Hydari family |
Hydari played the lead role in Mani Ratnam’s Kaatru Veliyidai (2017), receiving the SIIMA Award for Best Female Debut – Tamil.[4] For her performance in the Telugu film Sammohanam (2018), she received a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu. Her later credits include Chekka Chivantha Vaanam (2018), Sufiyum Sujatayum (2020) and Maha Samudram (2021), the Netflix anthology Ajeeb Daastaans (2021), and the streaming series Jubilee (2023) and Heeramandi (2024).
Early life and background
Summarize
Perspective
Aditi Rao Hydari was born on 28 October 1978 in Hyderabad, India, to Ahsan Hydari, an engineer, and Vidya Rao, a Hindustani classical singer.[5][6] Her family belongs to the nobility of the erstwhile Hyderabad state.[7] Her paternal grandfather, Akbar Hydari, served as the Prime Minister of Hyderabad State, while her grand-uncle, Muhammad Saleh Akbar Hydari, was the Governor of Assam.[8]
Hydari’s maternal side also has aristocratic lineage. Her mother, Vidya Rao, is a vocalist trained in the thumri and dadra genres.[9] Her maternal grandmother, Shanta Rameshwar Rao, was an educationist and founder of Vidyaranya High School in Hyderabad, as well as the chairperson of the publishing house Orient Blackswan.[10] Shanta was the daughter of Raja J. Rameshwar Rao,[11] the last ruling Raja of Wanaparthy,[12] a princely estate in the Hyderabad State.[7][8] Hydari is a maternal first cousin of filmmaker Kiran Rao.[13][14]
After her parents separated when she was two years old, Hydari was raised by her mother in Hyderabad and Delhi. She studied at Rishi Valley School, operated by the Krishnamurti Foundation, and later graduated from Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi University.[15][16][17] She began training in Bharatanatyam at the age of five under renowned dancer Leela Samson.[18] Hydari uses both her parents' surnames as part of her full name.[19]
Career
Summarize
Perspective
Early roles (2004–2009)
Hydari began her career as a Bharatanatyam dancer and trained under Leela Samson from the age of eleven. She joined Samson's dance group, Spanda, performing across India and abroad, and also contributed as a teacher.[20][21] Her first acting project was Sringaram (2007), a Tamil-language period drama directed by Sharada Ramanathan, in which she played the role of a devadasi, a temple dancer from the 19th century.[22] She was cast after Ramanathan saw her perform at a dance conference and noted her resemblance to dancer Shobana.[23] Though completed in 2004, Sringaram was screened at various international film festivals in 2005 and 2006 before its limited theatrical release in October 2007. The film received critical acclaim, with Hydari’s performance garnering praise.[23][24][25]
Her first theatrical release was the Malayalam film Prajapathi (2006), in which she appeared opposite Mammootty. She was recommended to director Ranjith by actress Shobana and was contacted through cinematographer Madhu Ambat, who had worked on Sringaram.[26] Hydari played an orphaned woman who falls in love with the protagonist, though critics noted that her role had limited impact on the narrative.[27]
In 2009, she made her Hindi-language debut with Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s ensemble drama Delhi-6. She portrayed a young woman in a conservative neighbourhood where unmarried women faced social stigma. Mehra cast her after viewing her performance in Sringaram.[28]
Career expansion (2009–2015)
In 2011, Hydari appeared opposite Arunoday Singh in Sudhir Mishra's crime thriller Yeh Saali Zindagi, portraying the wife of a former convict. The film attracted attention prior to release for its intimate scenes between the lead pair.[29] Her performance received critical acclaim, and she was awarded the Screen Award for Best Supporting Actress.[30] The same year, she played a supporting role in Imtiaz Ali’s musical romantic drama Rockstar, featuring Ranbir Kapoor.[31] Although initially considered for the lead role, she was later cast as a television reporter.[30][32] Several of her scenes were cut from the final version, and critics noted the limited development of her character.[33] Her performance in the film earned her a nomination for the Producers Guild Film Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.[34]
Seeking lead roles, Hydari starred opposite Ali Zafar in London, Paris, New York (2012), directed by Anu Menon. The romantic comedy follows a couple’s encounters across three cities. Hydari also made her singing debut by contributing two songs to the film’s soundtrack.[35][36][37] Her performance received favourable reviews, with critics from Sify, The Hindu, and NDTV praising her screen presence and character portrayal.[38][39][40] That year, she also performed the Hindi version of the song "We Are Family" for the animated film Ice Age 4: Continental Drift.[41]
In 2013, she starred as Roshni in Murder 3, a psychological thriller directed by Vishesh Bhatt and part of the Murder franchise. Hydari noted her interest in playing a role that diverged from her earlier portrayals of innocent characters.[8][42] Her performance was generally well received, with Bollywood Hungama describing it as a "knockout".[43][44] She next appeared alongside Akshay Kumar in the action film Boss (2013), directed by Anthony D'Souza.[45] The film received mixed reviews but performed well commercially.[46]
Hydari had brief appearances in two films in 2014: as a princess in the Hindi film Khoobsurat and as a dancer in the Marathi-language period drama Rama Madhav, the latter at the request of choreographer Saroj Khan.[47][48] In 2015, she played a key role in the comedy-drama Guddu Rangeela, directed by Subhash Kapoor. Although the film had an average box office performance, Hydari’s portrayal of a woman with a concealed past was noted positively by critics.[49][50]
Breakthrough and success (2016–2022)
_(cropped).jpg)
In 2016, Hydari appeared in Bejoy Nambiar’s crime thriller Wazir, co-starring Amitabh Bachchan and Farhan Akhtar. She portrayed Ruhana, the wife of Akhtar’s character. The film received generally positive reviews and was commercially successful, earning around ₹620 million (US$7.2 million).[51][52][53] Critics noted Hydari’s restrained performance, with Firstpost describing her as a "welcome change" from conventional portrayals of women,[54] while India Today praised the vulnerability she brought to the role.[55]
She next played the younger version of Begum Hazrat, originally portrayed by Tabu, in Abhishek Kapoor's Fitoor, a musical romantic drama based on Charles Dickens' Great Expectations. The film opened to mixed-to-positive reviews and underperformed at the box office, though Hydari's brief performance was well received.[56][57][58] Later that year, she appeared in The Legend of Michael Mishra, which was met with negative reviews; critics singled out Hydari's performance as one of the film's few positives.[59]
In 2017, Hydari starred in Kaatru Veliyidai, her first collaboration with director Mani Ratnam. She played a doctor stationed in Kargil during the 1999 war, opposite Karthi. The film received mixed reviews, though Hydari’s performance, along with A. R. Rahman's score and Ravi Varman’s cinematography, was widely praised.[60][61] Her performance in the film earned her the SIIMA Award for Best Female Debut – Tamil.[62] She followed this with Bhoomi, where she starred opposite Sanjay Dutt as a sexual assault survivor in a revenge drama directed by Omung Kumar.[63]
_(cropped).jpg)
Hydari’s first release of 2018 was Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s historical drama Padmaavat, in which she played Mehrunisa, the first wife of Alauddin Khalji, portrayed by Ranveer Singh.[64] The film, released amid controversy, became a major box-office success and received mixed-to-positive reviews. Critics noted Hydari’s presence as one of the more effective performances among the ensemble cast.[65][66][67][68] She next appeared as Chandni in Daas Dev, a political adaptation of Devdas, directed by Sudhir Mishra.[69][70][71] Later that year, she reunited with Mani Ratnam for Chekka Chivantha Vaanam, a Tamil-language action-drama, playing Parvathi opposite Arvind Swamy.[72] The film was released globally and emerged as a commercial success.[72]
Hydari made her Telugu debut with Sammohanam (2018), playing an actress opposite Sudheer Babu.[73] Her performance was received positively, with The Hindu remarking that her role "will stay with you."[74] It earned her a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu.[75] She ended the year with Antariksham 9000 KMPH, a Telugu science fiction thriller.[76]
Following a brief hiatus, Hydari appeared in three films in 2020. She starred opposite Udhayanidhi Stalin in the Tamil psychological thriller Psycho, directed by Mysskin.[77] In Sufiyum Sujatayum, a Malayalam romantic drama, she portrayed a mute woman in a relationship with a Sufi dancer. While the film received mixed reviews, critics noted her expressive performance.[78][79] She later appeared in the Telugu action thriller V, playing the wife of Nani’s character.[80] Though her screen time was limited, her presence was cited as adding emotional weight to the film’s climax.[81]
In 2021, Hydari featured in The Girl On The Train, a Hindi adaptation of Paula Hawkins’ novel of the same name.[82] She then appeared in the Netflix anthology Ajeeb Daastaans, which received favorable reviews.[83] That year, she also made a brief appearance in Sardar Ka Grandson, and starred in the Telugu film Maha Samudram opposite Siddharth and Sharwanand.[84]
Her sole release in 2022 was the Tamil romantic drama Hey Sinamika, in which she portrayed Mouna, a psychologist navigating a troubled relationship. The film received mixed reviews, though Hydari’s performance was described as mature and emotionally grounded.[85][86]
Further expansion (2023–present)
Hydari made her web series debut in 2023 with Taj: Divided by Blood, portraying the historical figure Anarkali. The series received mixed reviews, and her role was noted for its limited narrative depth. The Quint observed that the character had minimal development beyond visual appeal.[87][88] Later that year, she starred as an actress in Jubilee, a period drama created by Vikramaditya Motwane. Her performance as Sumitra Kumari received generally positive feedback, with The Indian Express describing her as a "perfect fit" for the role despite some repetitive emotional expressions.[89][90]
In 2024, Hydari played Bibbojaan, a courtesan, in Heeramandi, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali.[91] Her portrayal was highlighted by Scroll.in, which noted her effectiveness in conveying emotional resilience beneath a soft-spoken exterior.[92] Critics also remarked on her visual presence, with Rediff.com praising her screen appearance.[93]
Hydari is slated to appear in the upcoming silent film Gandhi Talks, alongside Vijay Sethupathi and Arvind Swamy,[94] and in Lioness, a British-Indian historical drama co-starring Paige Sandhu.[95]
Personal life
In 2004, it was reported that Hydari had married actor and former lawyer Satyadeep Mishra in 2002.[20][96] She declined to comment on her marital status in a 2012 interview, but confirmed in 2013 that the couple had separated.[97] Hydari met Mishra when she was seventeen, and later described him as her first serious relationship.[98] Despite their separation, the two have remained on amicable terms.[99][100]
Hydari met actor Siddharth while working on the film Maha Samudram (2021), and the two began dating the same year.[101] The couple announced their engagement on 28 March 2024, and were married on 16 September 2024.[102][103][104]
In the media
Hydari’s performance in the Tamil film Kaatru Veliyidai (2017) was featured in Film Companion’s list of the "100 Greatest Performances of the Decade".[105] She has consistently appeared in The Times of India’s annual "50 Most Desirable Women" rankings, placing sixth in 2018, ninth in 2019, and sixteenth in 2020.[106][107] She was named the Hyderabad Times Most Desirable Woman in 2018, and was ranked fourth and sixth in 2019 and 2020, respectively.[108][109][110] Hydari was also listed by Chennai Times as the Most Desirable Woman of 2019 and ranked fifth in 2020.[111][112] She is an endorser for several brands such as L'Oreal Paris, Airtel, Cadbury, Maaza, and Avon.[113]
Filmography
Films
| † | Denotes film or TV productions that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role | Language | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Prajapathi | Savithri | Malayalam | [114] | |
| 2007 | Sringaram | Madhura/Varshini | Tamil | ||
| 2009 | Delhi 6 | Rama | Hindi | ||
| 2010 | Dhobi Ghat | Guest at art gallery | |||
| 2011 | Yeh Saali Zindagi | Shanti | [115] | ||
| Rockstar | Sheena | ||||
| 2012 | London, Paris, New York | Lalitha Krishnan | |||
| 2013 | Murder 3 | Roshni | |||
| Boss | Ankita Thakur | ||||
| 2014 | Khoobsurat | Kiara | Special appearance | ||
| Rama Madhav | Herself | Marathi | Special appearance in song "Loot Liyo Mohe Shyam" | [116] | |
| 2015 | Guddu Rangeela | Baby | Hindi | ||
| 2016 | Wazir | Ruhana Ali | |||
| Fitoor | Young Begum Hazrat | Special appearance | |||
| The Legend of Michael Mishra | Varshali Shukla | ||||
| 2017 | Kaatru Veliyidai | Leela Abraham | Tamil | [117] | |
| Bhoomi | Bhoomi Sachdeva | Hindi | |||
| 2018 | Padmaavat | Mehrunisa | |||
| Daas Dev | Chandni | ||||
| Sammohanam | Sameera | Telugu | |||
| Chekka Chivantha Vaanam | Parvathi | Tamil | |||
| Antariksham 9000 KMPH | Riya | Telugu | |||
| 2020 | Psycho | Dagini | Tamil | ||
| Sufiyum Sujatayum | Sujatha | Malayalam | [118][119] | ||
| V | Saheba | Telugu | [120] | ||
| 2021 | The Girl on the Train | Nusrat John | Hindi | [121] | |
| Ajeeb Daastaans | Priya Sharma | ||||
| Sardar Ka Grandson | Young Swanmeet "Sardar" Kaur | Special appearance | [122] | ||
| Maha Samudram | Mahalakshmi | Telugu | [123] | ||
| 2022 | Hey Sinamika | Mouna Yaazhan | Tamil | [124][125] | |
| 2023 | Gandhi Talks | Gayathri | Silent | Premiered at the IFFI | [126] |
| TBA | Lioness † | Mehak | English | Filming | [127] |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Network | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Taj: Divided by Blood | Anarkali | ZEE5 | [128] | |
| Jubilee | Sumitra Kumari | Amazon Prime Video | [129] | ||
| 2024–present | Heeramandi | Bibbojaan | Netflix | [128] | |
| TBA | O Saathi Re † | TBA | Filming | [130] |
As voice actor
| Year | Movie | Dubbing for | Language | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Ponniyin Selvan: I | Trisha | Hindi | Dubbed for the character Kundavai | [131] |
| 2023 | Ponniyin Selvan: II |
Discography
| Year | Album | Song | Music Director | Language | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Jail | "Kaathodu Kaathanen" (co-singer Dhanush) | G. V. Prakash Kumar | Tamil | [132] |
| 2024 | Coke Studio Tamil | "Please Purinjukko" (co-singer Sean Roldan) | Sean Roldan |
Accolades
Other recognitions
| Year | Award | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Distinctive International Arab Festivals Awards | Outstanding Contributions to the Entertainment Industry | Won | [146] |
| 2024 | Bollywood Hungama Style Icons | Most Stylish Classic Beauty of the Year | Won | [147] |
References
External links
Wikiwand - on
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.