Published By: Sayan Paul

Aditi Rao Hydari's Birthday Special: Did You Know The Actress Is A Trained Martial Artist?

The 'Jubilee' actress is a dedicated practitioner of Kalaripayattu, an ancient Indian martial art that originated in Kerala.

I still remember how Aditi Rao Hydari emerged as a sensation - and that's long before the term "national crush" became popular - overnight upon the release of 'Padmaavat'. It was like everyone was prepared for Shahid Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, and Ranveer Singh, and she came out of the syllabus and took the entire audience by storm. Of course, she had previously appeared in several films, such as 'Murder 3', 'Rockstar', and 'Wazir'; but this was the first film to showcase her talent (and of course, that regal beauty) to the world, making her the industry's favorite. Ever since then, she has consistently impressed us with her works in both films and web series, such as 'Ajeeb Daastaans', 'Jubilee', and 'Heeramandi'.

Born on October 28, 1986, Aditi Rao Hydari hails from the renowned Tyabji–Hydari family. She started her career as a Bharatanatyam dancer, and gradually transitioned to acting with brief roles in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu films. Her performance in 'KaatruVeliyidai' was listed among Film Companion's "100 Greatest Performances of the Decade".

Aditi Rao Hydari in the poster of ‘Heermandi: The Diamond Baazar’

Aditi Rao Hydari in the poster of ‘Heermandi: The Diamond Baazar’

The celebrated actress turns 38 today. On this occasion, we share an interesting fact about her that you probably didn't know.

Aditi Rao Hydari - A Trained Martial Artist

Yes, Aditi Rao Hydari is a fitness enthusiast; and a substantive part of her workout regimen includes practicing Kalaripayattu (one of the ancient martial arts in the world). She is trained in this ancient Indian martial arts form, having practiced it for years now. Also, she often shares glimpses from her everyday sessions on social media.

Credit: aditiraohydari

About Kalaripayattu

Kalaripayattu originated in Kerala during the 11th-12th century, out of combat techniques of the battlefield. It includes strikes, kicks, grappling, preset forms, weaponry, and healing methods, along with jumping, running, etc. In several ways, it differs from all the other martial arts forms in the world.

The term Kalaripayattu is derived from two words – “Kalari” meaning place of exercise or gymnasium and “Payattu” meaning to fight or exercise. Traditionally, it uses weapons such as sticks, daggers, knives, spears, swords, shields, etc.

Credit: Temple Beauty

The primary aim of Kalaripayattu is to achieve coordination between the mind and the body. It's typically divided into four stages - Maithari (body control exercises), Kolthari (the practice of wooden weapons), Ankathari (the practice of metal weapons), and Verumkai (bare-hand fighting techniques).

A Look At Aditi Rao Hydari's Fitness Regimen

Besides practicing martial arts, Aditi Rao Hydari adheres to several other things as well as part of her fitness regimen.

The actress is a yoga enthusiast and often credits it for changing her life for the better. She starts her mornings with Surya Namaskar (referred to as ‘the ultimate asana’), after which performs various asanas.

Credit: aditiraohydari

Besides, she makes it a point to hit the gym at least four times a week, and practices dance almost every other day. Speaking about the importance of dance in her life, she once shared, "Going back to something I have done since I was five, feels as natural as breathing." On the other hand, she consumes loads of fresh veggies and fruits regularly.