#Interview: Aditi Rao Hydari on Mani Ratnam, Sanjay Dutt and Padmavati

Actress Aditi Rao Hydari is back in the game with currently working on three films simultaneously....

Tell us something about your character in Kaatru Veliyidai and how did you prep for this role?
I play a role of a doctor; who is at her first job in a general hospital in Srinagar. The film has romance and it’s a story about a relationship. I needed to prepare for the role of doctor. I went to the Apollo hospital in Chennai and spent some days over there. I learned how to use a stethoscope as we really don't know the real way of using it. I used to use it wrong then the doctors on the set used to come and change it. There is a fine balance between nurture and practicality that the doctors have to keep when attending a patient. The rest of the story is about the feelings and I don't think you can get trained for that. Mani sir is the most amazing writer and he gets into the head of his characters. When he is directing he just takes you on his journey so that you can feel it when you do it.

What would you say is the best thing about Mani Rathnam?
He is actually a very special person and a special filmmaker, a combination of both. Working with him makes you realise he is special because a lot of who he is and how he is; comes into the way he directs and the way he nurtures you. The thing that stands out for me the most is the fact that the way Mani sir writes romance I don't think anybody else can. What he writes on paper and what he directs after that, it goes to some other level. When I used to say the lines, it used to feel so real. He transfers you to that time and place. The second thing that is very special about him is the way he writes the women characters. Of course he writes men characters amazingly well too, and also other filmmaker does. But there are very few people who write for women very beautifully. The women in his films are vulnerable, beautiful, rooted in tradition but at the same time they are not bound by the tradition. They are head strong, free spirited; they have a mind of their own and they make their own way through the destiny. They love their passion but at the same time they also have their self respect and dignity. He does not rob a woman of a feminine quality to make her strong because there are a lot of times where the girl is either cute or sexy; she is just one thing. But, in Mani sir's films there are beautiful real characters and they have layers to them. I really admire him. When he is on set there is not a single person working on the film but there's a team working towards it. What he is in person, it comes out in characters of his script and no biased comes into them. In Kaatru Veliyidai there's a love song from the point of view of a man but also there’s a song from view point of a woman. How often does that happen? A girl saying how much she loves a man, is very rare normally it's the man who talks about her looks and etc.

What do you have to say about the music that is also being appreciated by the viewers who don't understand the language?
I always say that it's not about the geography or the language, it's about the captain of the ship and how his/her team works. And in this case the music is done by A.R. Rahman, he is globally loved and his music is universal. It's the magic of Rehman sir that his music touches one and all. I feel he gives his best music to Mani sir because they work beautifully together. Rehman sir started with Mani sir, this is their 25th year together and it is Mani sir's 25th film. This album is number one on itunes. When we would perform on his songs on the set, we used to constantly sing along.

Are there any plans of dubbing it in Hindi?
I really don't know, you have to ask Mani sir about it. At the moment it's only releasing in Telugu and Tamil. The kind of response we have got from the Hindi audience is overwhelming.

Not just this film but you also have other two films in your kitty, Bhoomi and Padmavati... Were you nervous working with Sanjay Dutt?
No, I wasn't. When you walk into a set on the first day of your shoot there's nervousness, excitement and elephants are stomping in your stomach. I wouldn't say I was nervous but I was very excited to work with him. You want that equation to click of a father and daughter and Sanjay sir is a very warm person. Even before we started shooting he was so warm, very caring, encouraging and chilled. He is so natural and effortless that it doesn't feel he is acting but he is reacting to all the things that has been happening which feels very natural. It's really nice that I have got this opportunity to work with him; I am cherishing it and enjoying it. He tells the most amazing stories to me about his experiences the best part is that he share them with you. Also, if he is going to visit a famous site or anywhere he goes he will take us along. And going with him is amazing because you get taken care of by him and his kind team.

And what about Padmavati where you are part of an extensive cast...
Yes, it's a large film and there are big actors on it. When I was asked to play the part opposite Ranveer Singh, I did not even think twice about it. It's been a childhood dream of mine to work with Sanjay Leela Bhansali sir. It was a very beautiful part that he has given me. We all want to be a part of good films and with good directors. Content is going to outlive us. It's going to be memorable and far beyond what we think.When you have a director like Sanjay Leela Bhansali he is going to make each of us do our best. I was really excited to work with Ranveer, Deepika Padukone and Shahid Kapoor, these are the actors I admire. And Sanjay sir is again someone who writes the women with beauty and in sync.