When people label a certain project as heroine-oriented, Aditi Rao Hydari wonders why other projects aren’t described in the same paradigm. “We don’t say, ‘This is a hero-oriented film’. We need stories about men, women, children and even animals. There should be equal space for stories of all people and nothing should be defined by gender. It should be about people,” says Hydari.

The actor, who has made waves for her performances in the web series Taj and Jubilee, wishes for a number of changes for the film industry in the coming times. “I wish artistry came first and led to good business, instead of having to create a business model and trying to put artistry into it,” she says, adding, “Also, it’s 2023 and we’re still not talking enough about pay parity and gender issues. I wish that changed.”

The pressure to keep figuring out ways to stay in the limelight often hounds artistes, and the 36-year-old says: “I wish we didn’t have to keep shouting out loud about ourselves. There is a lot of pressure to keep talking about yourself, and that follows false perceptions that are built up [about you]. I wish we could just concentrate on our work.”

As far as the extra focus on actors’ lives is concerned, Hydari has grown indifferent to it, including negative stuff that is often written about her. “[The attention] comes with being in the public eye. I can either crib about it or look at the positives. I prefer the latter, which is that I get so much love and so many compliments. [The industry] is a beautiful place to work. We are creating dreams every day. I prefer to look at it like that,” shares the Ajeeb Daastaans (2021) actor.

What about the negatives? “I always feel people do what they think is right. If they want to be negative, that is their journey. I prefer to concentrate on the happy things,” she ends.