Aditi Rao Hydari to be feted with ‘Diversity in Cinema’ award at IFFM

Bollywood actress Aditi Rao Hydari will be felicitated with the Diversity in Cinema Award for her immense contribution to cinema and her impactful performances across mediums at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2025. Expressing her gratitude, Aditi said, “It is such a special honour to be part of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne as a Guest of Honour and to receive the Diversity in Cinema Award.”

IFFM 2025 will run from August 14 to 24. Recently, it was announced that filmmakers Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari and Shoojit Sircar have been elected as the jury for Short Film Competition category at IFFM 2025.

She added: “Melbourne has always been warm and welcoming, and to be celebrated in a city that celebrates cinema with such passion is deeply humbling. I’m looking forward to being amidst fellow artists and cinema lovers and soaking in the infectious energy of IFFM.”

Festival Director Mitu Bhowmik Lange added, “Aditi Rao Hydari is the epitome of grace and excellence. Her work speaks volumes of her versatility and strength as an artist. We are absolutely delighted to welcome her to IFFM 2025 and to honour her with the Diversity in Cinema Award for the magic she brings to the screen.”

“Her presence will certainly make this year’s celebration even more memorable for audiences in Melbourne,” Lange added. Aditi was last seen on screen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s maiden series “Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar,” a period drama, set in the red-light district of Heera Mandi in Lahore during the Indian independence movement.

The series explores the lives of tawaifs and their intersection with political and personal struggles under British colonial rule. The cast includes Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Sheikh, Sharmin Segal, and Taha Shah Badussha.

Looking forward, Aditi will be sharing screen space with acclaimed starPankaj Tripathi in the forthcoming family comedy “Parivarik ManuRanjan”. The shoot of the drama is presently underway in Lucknow.

Backed by Vinod Bhanushali in collaboration with Himanshu Mehra, “Parivarik ManuRanjan” is being made under the direction of Varun V. Sharma.

Shedding light on her role in her next, Aditi shared, “When I read the script, I smiled through it. For me it’s rare to come across a story in this universe. The situational comedy, the twists and the unexpected turns, and more importantly, the warmth and simplicity that is the heart of the story. Getting to work with Pankaj sir is going to be a treat. He is a master of this genre, and for me this is going to be a big learning experience and a joy.”

Indo-Asian News Service