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Delhi girl's Chennai tryst

Aditi is another dancer who has taken to acting

BEST FOOT FORWARD Aditi Rao Hydari photo: M. Vedhan

Peaches and cream complexion, lithe frame, shiny black tresses and sparkling eyes — Delhi-based Aditi Rao Hydari is the singari of "Shringaram", a never-told-before story of devadasis on celluloid. Director Sharada Ramanathan couldn't have got a more ideal face to capture the shringara rasa on camera.

"Shringaram" is Aditi's maiden tryst with the reel world but at the recently held pre-release event of the film, she carried herself with the confidence and poise of a veteran. Clad in a striking black sharara-kameez, she says, "I am lucky to have begun with a film like this. A period film that's backed with a sensitive storyline, delightful dance, music and costume. By roping in great names such as cinematographer Madhu Ambat and art director Thota Tharrini, I think "Shringaram" has what it requires to make a parallel film a commercial success."

A student of Leela Samson, an acclaimed dancer and now the principal of Kalakshetra, Aditi started learning Bharatanatyam from the age of six. Bred in Delhi, she took to Bharatanatyam instead of the more popular Kathak there, at the insistence of her south Indian mother. "Though apprehensive initially, I agreed to do this film at my mother's behest. My lawyer-husband too wanted me to give it a shot," says the cheerful young girl. She continues, "The film may be on devadasis but it's not a song and dance film. There's lots of emotion too. So that made it quite thrilling for me."

Like many of the dancers-turned-actresses such as Padmini, Hema Malini, Shobana... Aditi too doesn't mind being a full time actor. But would being married prove a dampener? "I don't think so. I am sure I can find my own space," she quips.

And while she answers queries and poses for the camera, her husband watches her in silent admiration. "Thank god, I have a super supportive husband, who wants me to reach for the stars," she says with a twinkle in her eyes.

CHITRA SWAMINATHAN

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