Inside Aditi Rao Hydari’s Royal Lineage: The Remarkable Legacies of Raja Janumpally Rameshwar Rao III of Wanaparthy and Governor Muhammad Saleh Akb...

Most Bollywood stars have a rags-to-riches story, a childhood tale involving starry dreams and a hard climb to fame. But Aditi Rao Hydari’s story is the delicious exception. She was born not just into

privilege but into two extraordinary lineages—one rooted in Indian royalty and the other in illustrious civil service. Call her an actress, call her a performer, call her a dazzling presence in Heeramandi if you like, but she is also something else entirely: a bona fide, real-life princess. And unlike the many “prince-princess” labels loosely thrown around in the entertainment world, Aditi’s royal roots are grounded in documented history, centuries-old legacy, politics, culture, governance, and even a touch of revolution. To understand what makes her heritage so fascinating, we need to begin with the man who defined her maternal family story—Raja Janumpally Rameshwar Rao III.

The Royal Grandfather: Raja J. Rameshwar Rao III of Wanaparthy

If you ever find yourself down a historical rabbit hole about the princely states of Hyderabad, one name will inevitably pop up: the Wanaparthy Samsthanam, one of the most respected feudatories under the Nizam. The titular head of this estate for several decades was Raja Janumpally Rameshwar Rao III, Aditi’s maternal grandfather. Born in 1923 in Madras, Rameshwar Rao came from a long line of rulers. His father, Raja Krishnadeva Rao, and his grandfather, Raja Rameshwar Rao II, were custodians of a region rich in culture, textiles, folklore, and agrarian heritage. When Rameshwar Rao III inherited the title in 1944, he was just 21—young in age but seasoned in ambition. Most royals rest on their lineage, but here was a man who built his own legacy brick by brick. In 1948, he founded Orient Longman, a publishing house designed to empower Indian readers with Indian voices. (It is known today as Orient Blackswan, a respected academic publisher.) Then he did something even more unusual: he joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1949. From East Africa to the Gold Coast (modern-day Ghana), he represented independent India at a time when diplomacy was still finding its feet. He later plunged into active politics, winning the Mahbubnagar seat in the Lok Sabha four times between 1957 and 1977. A fun fact many people don’t know: his involvement in reviving and preserving traditional textiles played a role in popularising the Wanaparthy sari, a weave that still carries its royal stamp. When the 26th Amendment to the Constitution abolished royal titles and privy purses in 1971, Rameshwar Rao lost official recognition as Raja. But in the cultural fabric of Telangana, he remains remembered as the last symbolic ruler of Wanaparthy. He passed away in 1998, leaving behind a vast legacy—political, artistic, diplomatic, and cultural. One of his daughters, the distinguished Hindustani singer Vidya Rao, became Aditi’s mother.

The Paternal Grandfather: The Hydari Legacy and a Governor of Assam

Aditi’s paternal lineage is just as formidable. Her grandfather, Muhammad Saleh Akbar Hydari, belonged to the renowned Hydari family of Hyderabad. His father, Sir Akbar Hydari, served as the Prime Minister of Hyderabad State—one of the most powerful and intellectually influential positions of the time. Saleh Hydari followed the path of public service. He joined the Indian Civil Service and rose through the ranks with distinction. His most historic appointment came in 1947, when he became the Governor of Assam—the last British-appointed governor before India reshaped its administrative future. His tenure coincided with turbulent times, including the Partition and pressing administrative challenges. Today, his work continues to be referenced in discussions on the early years of Indian statecraft. So, while one grandfather was a ruler and later a globetrotting diplomat, the other was a high-ranking administrator with both British and Indian governments. Aditi’s heritage truly straddles two worlds: aristocracy and bureaucracy.

A Princess Born From Two Civilisations

Aditi was born on 28 October 1986 in Hyderabad, into a home blending Hindu and Muslim traditions—her mother is Hindu; her father, Ehsaan Hydari, Muslim. She grew up influenced by classical music, art, literature, and the ethos of two noble families. No wonder her screen presence has that ethereal, old-world grace—the kind that looks equally convincing in a Mughal atelier (Heeramandi) or a palace corridor (Padmaavat). It wasn’t a PR gimmick or media invention: Aditi’s royal lineage is very much real. She is related by blood to the last titular Raja of Wanaparthy and the last British-appointed Governor of Assam. That’s quite the cocktail for one woman.

Beyond Royal Titles: Aditi’s Own Journey Has Been Bold

Royal heritage aside, Aditi forged her path with grit. She married young—at 21—to actor Satyadeep Misra, whom she had begun dating at 17. The marriage ended amicably, and the two remain on warm terms, but Aditi’s personal life rarely overshadowed her craft. Her rise through films was gradual but steady: Delhi-6 gave her visibility, Rockstar added charm, Wazir displayed her maturity, and Heeramandi cemented her as a performer who can hold an entire frame with a single expression. And yes, her real-life romance has been nothing short of cinematic. She met actor Siddharth on the sets of Maha Samudram, fell in love, got engaged in 2024, and married him in September the same year. If royal fairy tales needed a modern update, Aditi’s life would fit comfortably between the pages.

A Legacy That Lives On

Aditi Rao Hydari isn’t just a princess by birth; she’s an heir to stories of statecraft, diplomacy, cultural preservation, political reform, and artistic evolution. Her grandfathers shaped India in different but equally meaningful ways—one through governance, the other through royalty and public service. It’s not every day that Bollywood produces a princess whose lineage is a history lesson in itself. And Aditi wears that legacy with the quiet elegance of someone who doesn’t need a crown to prove she belongs to royalty.