Radhika Apte on Breaking Stereotypes and Working With Rajinikanth

Radhika Apte shares being type cast in Bollywood and tags that totally make her furious exclusively with The Quint.

Radhika Apte is on a roll (Photo: Yogen Shah)

30-year-old Radhika Apte sneaked in and took our cinemas by storm, I’m talking about both Bollywood and Tamil films. After the rave reviews she’s got for her film Phobia, the actress getting ready for the release of her Tamil film Kabali opposite none other than superstar Rajinikanth. This girl-next-door has created a niche for herself with her choice of films. I quiz Radhika about breaking stereotypes.

Q: Speaking of the big blockbusters, how was the experience of shooting with Rajnikanth for Kabali? How different is working in the Tamil Industry?

Radhika Apte: It is very hard to make a list, I’ll tell you very honestly because every project is very different. If you do 5 projects in Hindi also, they would be completely different from one another. So it is not really easy to do that. You know, there are two different cultures. The culture in South India is very different and they are catering to an audience which is a very different class and kind of audience. They target a very particular audience. In Bollywood, you target a very different and diverse kind of audience.

I have not enjoyed working in the South for whatever reasons at times, but this film was particularly exceptionally good. I loved the experience of working there but I don’t regret it (the bad experiences) because it has really helped me understand where those things come from which I don’t quite agree with. Honestly, they are there in Bollywood as well. It is just that the couple of projects I have worked on there have been disastrous.

Rajinikanth really treats people equally and that is a very important thing. Not many people have the capacity to do that when you reach a status like that. I don’t know what they start thinking of themselves. But he is extremely egalitarian, at least with me he was. That is very basic you know, we praise when people treat others equally but it is fundamental. He was not at all intimidating. 

He was so sweet right from the first day. I was never intimidated by him. There is nothing about him which is even remotely giving anybody the feeling of superiority. He gives the most beautiful vibe which is so warm and unassuming. It is genuinely unassuming, I think his soul is unassuming, so there is no intimidation. He is very nice ya…!

Q: People come in the industry with a lot of perceptions as there are various kinds of connotations attached to Bollywood. Did you come with any such baggage of things not to do?

Radhika Apte: Yes, I did have a perception of the industry when I thought to be a part of Bollywood. It is a foolish perception in the sense that you have to come here and spend quite a few years to really understand how the business works and what you need to do. Of course, it is such an insecure business and such an insecure place to be in. It is so competitive, so harsh. Many things depend on aspects that are not in your hand. It is very easy to fit into other people’s boxes but you really have to stick to your own ground. You really have to do what you believe in. Slowly, you find your own people and you find your own niche.

Q: Strangely there happen to be a list of unsaid rules in Bollywood that include endorsing fairness creams, hiding your relationship status, playing second fiddle in big blockbusters to be able to make a mark. Pleasantly, you have not fallen in this trap and have carved such a niche for yourself. Was it organic or conscious? 

Radhika Apte: To tell you the truth, all thing happened very organically in the sense that all of this doesn’t excite me one bit. When I get films like those (made for a 100 crore box-office movies), I get more restless to get out of it. It is not even a thought but you know my body starts acting like it doesn’t like it. I am like, ‘No, I can’t do it…..’ It is boring. What will I do for two months while doing this. Many times my managers come and tell me that I have to do it and I am like, No…! I find so many excuses to not do it.

Q: Speaking of hiding one’s relationship status, you have never hidden any aspect about your husband Benedict. 

Radhika Apte: You know, I spoke about it the day I got married. It was a registered marriage as I don’t believe in the whole hoopla that surrounds weddings.

You know, this thought of hiding the status, or feeling or acting differently just because you are married doesn’t come to our mind because it is that ridiculous. We have been living together and it hasn’t changed anything. We are two individuals and marriage doesn’t change anything.

Q: You have often been given certain ‘tags’ or ‘judgements’ by many people here. Which are the ones that make you furious?

Radhika Apte:

I hate any tag people give me. But mostly I have been tagged as a saree-clad actress after <i><b>Raktcharitra</b></i> and <b><i>Shor In The City</i></b> and no one would cast me in urban parts. They still call me non-glamorous which is so ridiculous because I don’t understand their definition of glamour.

Then, they would say you did a very de-glam role because there is no make-up. I don’t quite get the connection. They call me bold, which I don’t get the connection either. Now, I am sure they will tag me as a horror actress as I am another horror film, not that Phobia was horror. My next horror film is called Ghoul and it is a completely different film and I have a completely different part. I think, a film like that has never been made in India ever. But people tag you all the time and these are the few tags that I am bored of.

Q: People are very scared to be put in a particular slot here, but rules don’t apply to the ones who are on the top of their game. Do you agree with these double standards? 

Radhika Apte: You are right. You know if you are a so called glamorous actor who does absolutely the same thing in every film, they wont typecast her but always go watch her films as she is a ‘A lister.’ They would not type cast her for doing rubbish romantic comedies all her life. But if you do 2 thrillers back to back then they would ask you, “Are you just going to do thrillers?” It is just mindless.