Celebrating two decades in cinema, actor Radhika Apte has reflected on her challenging early career, revealing deeply unsettling experiences of sexism, particularly on a South Indian film set. In a candid conversation on SCREEN's Creator X Creator, Apte described an incident she labels as "traumatic," highlighting the pervasive objectification women face behind the scenes.
A Lone Woman in a Hostile Environment
Radhika Apte recounted a specific episode from the late 2000s when she was shooting for a South Indian film in a small town. She was the only woman present on the entire set, a situation that immediately placed her in a vulnerable position. To make matters worse, she was not permitted to bring her own manager or support team, leaving her isolated amidst a crew comprised entirely of men provided by the production.
The environment, she recalls, was rife with sexism, ranging from lewd jokes to direct comments about her physique. The most jarring instance involved the crew demanding she add more prosthetic padding to her breasts and buttocks to alter her appearance on screen. "They were like, 'Amma, more padding!' I said, 'How much more padding?'" Apte shared with a laugh, masking the discomfort of the memory. She questioned the absurdity of the request, asking, "How much rounder would you make somebody?"
Confronting a Toxic Culture Beyond Hindi Cinema
While Apte has been vocal about avoiding Hindi film projects with certain "awful" and "very big people," she clarified that her difficult experiences were not confined to Bollywood. She took on South Indian film roles at the time primarily out of financial necessity. The actor stated that her heart still skips a beat when she thinks back to those days, despite considering herself outspoken and brave.
"I never, ever want to be put in that situation again because I'll cry. It was actually traumatic. I wouldn't want any woman to be in that position," Apte expressed emphatically. She also voiced her concern over the regressive portrayal of women in many contemporary "huge films," finding the ongoing narrative deeply disturbing.
A Call for Change and Shared Responsibility
In her critique, Radhika Apte did not place the blame solely on men within the industry. She pointed a finger at the powerful women in positions of influence who, in her view, are not doing enough to instigate change. "There are so many women in such powerful positions who can make the change, but they won't. And I find that deeply disturbing," she asserted.
The actor, last seen in Tisca Chopra's directorial debut 'Saali Mohabbat' on ZEE5, also touched upon the broader challenges of navigating the film industry's complex social and political landscapes. Her revelations, shared in the December 19, 2025 edition of Creator X Creator, add a powerful voice to the ongoing conversation about dignity, safety, and equality for women in Indian cinema, both in front of and behind the camera.
