‘Oh, you play a bitch so well’: Kalki Koechlin on audience reactions to intense roles and why 'YJHD's Aditi remains special

Actor Kalki Koechlin recently looked back at one of her most loved performances, Aditi from ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’, while opening up about the kind of characters she has often been offered throughout her career. The actress, known for choosing unconventional roles, shared that positive and cheerful characters still hold a special place in her heart.During a recent interaction with Variety India, Kalki spoke about audience reactions to her performances and why her role in ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’ continues to resonate with viewers even today.When asked whether she would revisit characters from films like ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’ if they were remade today, Kalki admitted that she no longer sees herself returning to those parts at this stage of her life. However, the actress acknowledged that her character Aditi remains one of the most loved roles from her filmography. Unlike several intense or emotionally heavy parts she has portrayed over the years, Aditi represented warmth, positivity and emotional comfort.Kalki also reflected on how audiences strongly react to some of her more layered or difficult characters. According to the actress, many viewers often approach her with comments about how convincingly she portrays difficult personalities on screen. “I have had so many people walk up to me and say, ‘oh, you play a bitch so well!’” she revealed with a laugh.The actress explained that while such reactions can sometimes feel overwhelming, they also indicate that the performance connected with the audience emotionally. “Audiences have strong reactions to these characters, which can sometimes be flustering or disturbing, but it also means the character was convincing and evoked emotions in people,” she shared.Even though Kalki enjoys exploring emotionally complex characters, she admitted that she genuinely enjoys portraying lighter and happier personalities whenever she gets the chance. “None of us are fully good or bad. I always try to find the vulnerability in those characters and I am glad my positive characters like Aditi (from ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’) resonate with people,” she said. The actress further added, “I jump at the opportunity to play happy characters.”Her portrayal of Aditi in the coming-of-age drama remains one of the film’s emotional highlights, with audiences continuing to connect deeply with the character years after the film’s release.Kalki also reflected on how her acting journey evolved differently from what she had originally imagined for herself. Early in her career, she had dreamt of becoming a conventional Bollywood heroine, but over time she embraced unconventional and challenging roles instead. “When I was young, I wanted to play the main character and be the heroine,” she said.Looking back now, the actress feels grateful that her career pushed her toward more experimental and creatively satisfying performances rather than formulaic mainstream roles.Kalki Koechlin has stepped into French-language cinema with John M. Keller’s comedy-drama ‘Her Song’. The film features actors Eléa Clair and Zach Grenier in key roles, while Oscar-winning filmmaker James Ivory of ‘Call Me By Your Name’ fame serves as executive producer alongside Eric Gruendemann.