Mumbai, Oct 13 (NationPress) Bollywood and South Indian star Aditi Rao Hydari, who originates from the royal lineage of Wanaparthy in Telangana, has always taken immense pride in her heritage.

The actress recently utilized her social media platform to share a heartfelt message regarding the revival of the Wanaparthy saree, a traditional weave imbued with rich history and family significance. Accompanying her post were photographs from an exhibition dedicated to this saree, where Aditi expressed, “The revival of the Wanaparthy saree! A saree with multicultural roots, akin to my own!”

In her reflection on culture and heritage, Rao mentioned, “My grandfather Raja J Rameshwar Rao devoted his youth to this revival. He supported the weavers and commissioned them to create for our family, sending old designs for them to study and recreate.” She added, “His ancestors, the art-loving rulers of Wanaparthy, invited Pathani weavers to their kingdom, leading to the saree’s evolution as it adapted to the region.”

Rao further noted, “I recall a particular saree owned by my grandmother, mother, and her sisters, inspired by a renowned Ravi Varma painting—the black asharfi saree. I now realize that it influenced me too, deeply embedded in my subconscious, coming to life when the brilliant Sabyasachi designed my half saree for my wedding at the Wanaparthy temple!”

She continued, “There’s so much to share, and family histories are truly captivating; I’ll need to consult my Amma for more! For now, I present this exhibition to you all. I am immensely proud to showcase this and hope the weavers of Wanaparthy can reclaim their rich heritage.”

In her carousel post, she elaborated on the images shared, emphasizing the legacy. “Slides 1, 2, 3, 4 – The exhibition. Slide 5: The Raja Ravi Varma painting of the lady in the asharfi saree with the striped brocade blouse. Slide 6: @sabyasachiofficial created this half saree for our Wanaparthy temple wedding. Slide 7: My mother with her mother, my Ammamma, in a Wanaparthy saree (this was a color picture I eagerly converted to black and white and can’t find the original). The saree is a classic ivory with a kumkum border. Slide 8: Me wearing a Wanaparthy saree in high school. The music features a collaboration of my Ammas singing and a French musician….”

She concluded her post by expressing her pride in bringing the Wanaparthy saree back into the limelight and expressed wishes for its weavers to continue reclaiming their legacy. For those unaware, Aditi Rao Hydari’s maternal grandfather, J. Rameshwar Rao, was the raja of Wanapathy and a prominent nobleman in the royal court of the Nizam in Hyderabad.