Siddharth and Aditi Rao Hydari on why inherited jewellery carries a piece of family history

Heirloom jewellery as a living link to family

Some pieces of jewellery are treasured for their beauty, while others hold memories of the people who wore them before. Passed down through generations, heirlooms become a tangible connection to family, carrying stories, traditions and emotions that transcend time. During Diwali, when familiar rituals and family gatherings take centre stage, these pieces take on an even more special meaning.

For Siddharth, the emotional connection to jewellery is rooted in everyday life. He recalls seeing his mother wear a particular piece over the years, a familiar sight that has stayed with him. "The tradition and the nostalgia and beauty associated with jewellery has always fascinated me. And, for example, the way I see my mother's neck, which always has a specific piece of jewellery on it that she really enjoys wearing because she likes to. And it's been the same for many years, and it's got that quality of something that you can wear every day but still feel special," he says.

For Aditi Rao Hydari, the appeal of heirloom jewellery goes beyond its aesthetic value. "For me, jewellery connected to family carries a sense of history and a continuing legacy that makes it incredibly special. What makes an heirloom beautiful is knowing that it has been worn, loved and cherished by generations before you, and that you then carry that story forward. The timeless craftsmanship and symbolism lend themselves beautifully to becoming pieces that can be treasured across generations," she says.

A festive campaign built on relationships

The couple, who came together for Indriya's festive campaign, Festival of Love, see jewellery as an extension of the relationships and memories that make celebrations meaningful. For Siddharth, marking a festival with a thoughtful gesture holds particular appeal. "I like the idea of being with your loved ones, making the festival all the more special with simple gestures, but also gestures of, you know, enduring quality, like a piece of jewellery. And that kind of symbolises what we're celebrating, both in the relationships as well as the festival, and all the wonderful things it brings with it," he says.

Aditi believes it is often the seemingly little things that make festive occasions memorable. "For me, the festive season is really a celebration of love, gratitude, family and togetherness. It's the little rituals, conversations and moments shared with the people you love that make these occasions truly meaningful, and jewellery naturally becomes a part of those memories," she says.

Having been part of Indriya's festive campaign last year, Aditi describes this outing as a natural continuation, albeit one that feels more intimate. "I love that the campaign looks at jewellery as more than adornment — it becomes part of the relationships, emotions and memories that make every celebration special," she adds.

Playing themselves on screen

The film also gave the couple an opportunity to bring their everyday equation to the screen. Siddharth says the experience was particularly enjoyable because they were playing characters who were essentially themselves. "It's always interesting to share the screen with Aditi, and particularly in the context of Indriya, because we've done one story together last year. And so this one was a very sweet script, and it was fun because we got to play characters, but those characters were ourselves. So it was really nice to get a little nugget of that daily chemistry of ours captured by a wonderful story that also connects to the festive season, which makes it even more special."

Aditi agrees that their off-screen equation made the experience feel effortless. "We love being around each other and there is always a sense of playfulness and a lot of laughter. Being together on camera is also an extension of that feeling and it felt effortless. I loved that the film captures the warmth of relationships and the joy of creating memories together, which to me is truly the spirit of the festive season," she says.