Exclusive: Radhika Apte on being the OTT poster girl and working with incredible actor and directors

Terms of endearment Radhika Apte, who is known for the life-like portrayals of her on-screen characters, tells Rupsha Sen that she’s become good at detaching herself from them Radhika Apte was once called the poster girl of OTT. She was seen in almost every project and most of her choices were critically acclaimed. So much so that she was being touted as a lucky charm. Reportedly, people thought casting her guaranteed a favourable response from the audience because she had tremendous goodwill with them. Tell her that and she beams. But she says any product, be it a film or a series, is a product of teamwork and a single individual can’t guarantee its success. She refuses to be drawn in the debate, adding that she’s glad she got a chance to work with some of the best talent in some of the best works of fiction. The actor, who is known for her forthright ways, made headlines recently because her character, a Dalit, in the hit series Made In Heaven stands up for herself and insists on following Buddhist rituals during her wedding. The actor says it’s all been a learning experience. Excerpts from a chat with the talent powerhouse. 

THE EPISODE SHEDS LIGHT ON CASTEISM AND SOCIAL ISSUES. WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE ISSUE?

I don’t believe in religion, as in, I am not religious at all. I come from the so-called highest caste in Hinduism. So I haven’t faced any discrimination for my caste. I haven’t experienced anything, and to be honest I have no idea what Dalit is. Of course, I understand discrimination; I understand what it feels like to be a woman, to be brown-skinned… when this episode came out, I got so many messages and phone calls saying that it’s the first time they’ve seen such Dalit representation. It was shocking at the same time I was like wow, I didn’t know the gravity of this. The fact that something as small as this would affect people was something indeed. 

SO DO YOU WANT TO PORTRAY ANY SOCIAL ISSUES OR SOMETHING YOU BELIEVE IN, ON SCREEN?

Not really; I’m not a social activist. I’m an actor and I like to tell stories. It’s not like, let’s talk about this social issue now, and let’s talk about that social issue. You know, that’s not why we do what we do. WHAT DRIVES YOU TOWARDS A SPECIFIC SCRIPT? If you know the director from before and are familiar with his or her work, that does count for something. What is the story, is it a thrilling story? If it’s an exciting character, co-actors, and all of that too make a difference. 

YOU HAVE CREATED A LOT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF CHARACTERS. DO YOU TAKE THOSE CHARACTERS HOME?

I have been able to detach myself so far. But I also take something away from each of the characters. There is always something to take away, even from the people you meet. But I am also good at detaching myself; the moment they say cut, I am out of it. At home, I’m a different person, I’ve forgotten about my characters. 

YOU HAVE WORKED IN A LOT OF INDUSTRIES AND A LOT OF DIFFERENT MEDIUMS; DOES YOUR PROCESS CHANGE FOR DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES AND MEDIUMS?

Not at all. So when you watch a film on OTT or whether you watch the same film on the screen you don’t act differently, right? Working on films and in the digital space is more or less the same. The digital medium definitely has more freedom though. There is no censorship, so it’s liberating to do what you want and not worry about anything else. But having said that, the medium will never be a criterion when I’m choosing a project. 

YOU HAVE RECEIVED A LOT OF ACCLAIM FOR THE WAY YOU BRING YOUR CHARACTERS TO THE SCREEN. WHAT IS THAT PROCESS LIKE?

I’m glad for the critical acclaim. Validation is required at some point or another. You know everybody seeks it. But my preparation for every part is different. Some need research, some need rehearsals and some need spontaneity. But I think the recipe for a good performance is that your co-actors are really good. That always helps you perform better. 

DO YOU PREFER BEING A MORE CRITICALLY OR COMMERCIALLY ACCLAIMED ACTOR?

Why does one have to choose all the time? I think a bit of both would be great. 

DO YOU THINK BEING OUTSPOKEN HAMPERS YOUR CHANCES IN THIS INDUSTRY?

I don’t think about it. If I wasn’t outspoken, who’s to say what my chances would be? I am who I am. I don’t think about whether I should do this or not. I do what I should do. I do what I feel like doing at that point, and I speak my mind because that’s just the only way I need to know how to be. 

DO YOU THINK IT HAS BEEN HARDER FOR ACTORS TO SELL THEMSELVES IN TODAY’S SCENARIO?

I wasn’t there before. I only know what it is in today’s scenario, so I don’t know the comparison. But it is hard for actors to constantly be relevant. There are just so many things that one has to fight against all the time. So it’s tough. But it’s also hard for makers to make new, fresh content at the moment as well. 

THERE ARE SO MANY OTT ACTORS POPPING UP HERE AND THERE; HOW DOES ONE STAND OUT?

Every actor is different. They bring in something different to the table. So I don’t think I’m better or worse than anyone. I bring my own touch to the character. Every actor does that. Which is the magic of it, right? Everyone does it differently. 

HOW DO YOU HANDLE REJECTION?

Rejection is an everyday part of any freelancer’s job. Acting is a freelance job. Whether you’re a freelance journalist, a musician or whoever, rejection is always a part of your day. You learn to accept it but you have to find a way to not take it personally because it is not a personal thing. It’s what they require and then how they choose to do things depends on so many things. You just have to stop taking it personally. 

DO YOU HAVE A FEAR OF MISSING OUT WHEN YOU ARE NOT WORKING?

I do take lots of breaks. And since COVID, I’ve been taking breaks for months at a time. I don’t even live here. But no, I’m always creatively involving myself in something or the other, so I don’t really have that fear. There are times I feel firmer but I don’t have to take a break for that. You could be coming home from a hectic day of shooting and you could see someone else doing some good work and you can feel more insecure. So it doesn’t need to be during a break. I think what is more important is to understand why you do what you do. Can you actually do that constructively and grow? You know, creatively, that’s more of the focus, not this. 

WHAT HAS BEEN A FAVOURITE OF YOURS FROM THE RECENT STRING OF RELEASES?

Kohrra. I enjoyed that. 

WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN STORE FOR THE FUTURE?

I am actually doing a British film with BFI. It’s called System Midnight. Then I’m doing an American film that I can’t announce yet because of the strike. There’s a Hindi film that I’m doing with Manish Malhotra. Then there are a couple of other projects that I’m still in the process of signing and really excited for. I’m not a social activist. I’m an actor, and I like to tell stories and do stories There is always something to take away,even from the person that you meet. But I am also very good at detaching myself Acting is a freelance job. Whether you’re a freelance journalist, a musician rejection is always a part of your day.