The Flower Child

In classic hues, opulent silhouettes, and decadent spirit, Aditi Rao Hydari transforms into the timeless bride

- Jahnavi Prasad

It is raining and some commotion is at play at The Charcoal Project, a concept store in suburban Mumbai. The chaos is not unexpected on a monsoon morning and our cover star Aditi Rao Hydari is unaffected by the bustle that surrounds her. In a summery red dress and dad-core white sneakers, she hums along to Señorita by Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello. “Music is something that makes me feel good no matter what,” says the actor with a girl-next-door demeanour.

The artiste, who turns thirty-two later this month, has been shuttling between Tollywood and Bollywood since she was twenty. “I will probably be shooting in London on my birthday. I am okay with that. I like being on set. I love working,” she says. That work ethic shines through her oeuvre, and the accolades it has won her; later, that evening, Hydari won the Best Supporting Actor (Female) award for Padmaavat at IIFA Awards 2019.

On set, she is a consummate professional—getting through outfit changes and shots with ease. And finally, she snuggles into a pile of cushions and talks to Brides Today about her happy, free spirited, and bohemian heart.

What do you believe in—a once-in-a-lifetime kind of love or many loves?

I am very much a once-in-a-lifetime love kind of person, but I feel like you can go through a few ups and downs in life to get to that forever kind of love.