Aditi Rao Hydari: Didn't want to be factory-manufactured prototype

Actress Aditi Rao Hydari says she has reached a stage in her career where she no longer wants to be what everyone else expects her to be.

"It was one of the biggest challenges to get to a point where I understood that I didn't have to be a factory-manufactured prototype of what I'm expected to be. I could be uniquely myself and that would be my strength. I think the day I understood this, everything became happy and effortless for me," Aditi told .

Born in Hyderabad and brought up in Delhi, Aditi made her debut with Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's "Delhi-6" and went on to work in Hindi and Southern film industry.

While talking about the film industry, she pointed out how people give a lot of priority to images and perception.

"I've always felt the priority of investment is in images and perception. I wish we would invest more in talent and content. It's changing now but as a fan I'd love to watch fewer 'curated projects' and more 'cinema'," she said on the sidelines of the shoot of "Cheers To That with Janice", a content series presented by Grey Goose.

On the acting front, Aditi will be seen in the Tamil film "Psycho". It is a psychological thriller directed by Mysskin.

Sharing her shooting experience, she said: "It was tough shooting the film, one of the most challenging and exhausting films I have done, physically and mentally. Mysskin sir has made pathbreaking cinema and he is on the wishlist of many actors. I was thrilled to have worked with him."

She also shared how she manages working in Bollywood and down south simultaneously.

"It's hectic but I love it being hectic. I'm a fully charged Duracell battery cell and I love being on set in front of the camera, being directed by someone who pushes me. It's my happy place. I find it cathartic. The time between action and cut is magic. I have to work doubly hard on languages I don't know. I travel like crazy, juggling all the work. But if I love something and want to do something, I do it. Also, I never want any boundary to come in my way interms of language, religion, or gender. A good director is a good director, a good film is a good film, and an engaging story is engaging in any language because it makes you feel, and feelings have no boundaries," Aditi said.

(Simran Sethi can be contacted at simran.s@.in)

( With inputs from IANS )