Aditi Rao Hydari Had Rachel Weisz, Audrey Hepburn, As Reference For ‘Jubilee’

Indian actor Aditi Rao Hydari plays the lead role in Vikramaditya Motwane ’s web series Jubilee that is currently streaming on Prime Video. In an exclusive interview, she talks about working on the project, her experience with filmmaker Motwane and more.

Recalling how she prepared for her character of yesteryear Bollywood star Sumitra Kumari, Rao says, “ The reference point for Sumitra Kumari was the script itself. The world that Motwane created and what Atul Sabharwal wrote, had a lot of detail and clarity. It also gave me the freedom to find the many layers that make Sumitra Kumari who she is. She is an actress ( and I am one so there is a familiarity on that aspect), but a lot of who she is – her instincts and responses – were completely alien to me.” She adds that she watched Rachel Weisz in The Favourite (2018 movie) for “how much of a physical and emotional wall I could build around Sumitra”.

“The script also allowed me to tap into her vulnerability and her yearning for love. The photographic references were of Audrey Hepburn and Maharani Gayatri Devi. That also helped me in bringing out the fragility juxtaposed with a powerful commanding presence of a woman with agency in a male driven business,” she adds.

Aditi says that she felt the need to cut her hair, “and however trivial that sounds I struggled with it, but I think it was the first step in helping me change my body language and my instincs.”

Recalling working with Aparshakti Khurana on the web series, Rao says, “Apar is a lot of fun. He is also generous with his compliments and humour. He spent most of our time on set quizzing me about everything under the sun. He has some indepth intel on me.”

Rao also enjoyed working with other actors on the show. “I think everyone will say the same but I used to wait for Ram Kapoor to be on set with us. He is the happiest and funniest person to be around. It was hard to be the condescending Sumitra Kumari when I was constantly bursting into giggles. Shweta is such an effortlessly amazing actor I’ve seen her in Makdee and she was so good in it. I had just one scene with her in Jubilee and it was really lovely working with her and watching her work so seamlessly.”

Talking about the director, Rao says, “I’ve always wanted to be directed by Vikram sir. I’ve been a big fan since I watched Lootere. His passion and love for cinema is so evident in every choice he makes. At first I was a little intimidated by a very serious set (for Jubilee) but then I grew to love and admire it.”

She adds, “Many many things (to learn from Motwane), not just the director but also the person. He runs a very tight ship. His set and style of working was so detailed and efficient. He does so with a lot of sensitivity and kindness. And, most importantly he gives the best hugs.”

Apart from Rao and Khurana, Jubilee features Prosenjit Chatterjee, Wamiqa Gabbi, Sidhant Gupta, Ram Kapoor, Nandish Sandhu.