Actor Radhika Apte believes the uncertainty surrounding box office performance has made it increasingly difficult for female-led films to secure strong theatrical releases unless they feature established stars such as Alia Bhatt or Deepika Padukone.
The 41-year-old actor, known for her performances in films including Shor in the City, Badlapur, Manjhi โ The Mountain Man, Parched, Pad Man and Andhadhun, said she does not choose projects based on whether they are intended for theatres or streaming platforms.
Apte, who has also appeared in acclaimed OTT shows such as Sacred Games and Ghoul, was last seen theatrically in the 2024 film Merry Christmas. Her more recent projects, including Lust Stories 3, Saali Mohabbat, Mrs Undercover and Monica, O My Darling, have been released on streaming platforms.
"I don't take a project based on whether it's theatrical or OTT. I don't really care about it. There are so many business decisions dependent on that; I'd rather be like 'let the film come out one way or another'," Apte told PTI in an interview.
๐๐ผ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐๐
Discussing the challenges faced by female-led films, Apte said the industry's unpredictable theatrical performance had made it difficult to assess which projects could succeed.
"With theatrical releases in the last few years we don't know what is working or what isn't. A theatrical release where I am the lead would probably tank even if it's the best film," she said.
"I don't have that, like generally, I'm not an Alia Bhatt or Deepika Padukone where you can, at least, hope that they'll be opening. I'm being very honest with you. That means I have to be in a film where men are doing the main part," she added.
Apte said she was being realistic about the commercial considerations influencing theatrical releases, particularly when a film revolves around a female protagonist.
๐๐ด๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ ๐๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐น๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ
The actor also expressed discomfort with what she described as the growing popularity of violence-driven films at the box office.
"Also, what is working right now is violence, and I'm vehemently against it. So, it's a tricky situation. I don't watch those films; I find them absurd," she said.
Questioning the appeal of increasingly graphic action sequences, Apte said she found it difficult to understand how audiences could enjoy watching repeated scenes of people being violently assaulted.
She added that she would rather avoid participating in projects that rely heavily on such content.
๐ ๐ผ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ต๐ผ๐ผ๐ฑ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐
Apte, who welcomed a daughter with her husband, British violinist and composer Benedict Taylor, in 2024, said motherhood had changed her approach to work.
The actor now prioritises reasonable working hours and time with her daughter, making it difficult to accept projects involving extended shooting schedules.
"Now my conditions have changed. All I ask for is 12 hours of workday and not a 16-hour workday or like some time off, and it's not always possible," she said.
"For me, I wanted to be with her as much as possible, and I still do because she's too small," Apte added.
She emphasised that acting had never been the sole focus of her life and that her professional commitments would continue to evolve alongside her personal priorities.
"My work is not my life. It has never been my life; it's part of my life," she said, adding that she could choose to work more or even step away from acting in the future.
๐ช๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฝ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐๐น๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ
Apte revealed that she had also taken a break from acting partly to pursue writing, although finding time and energy for the creative process had become difficult after motherhood.
Recalling a podcast she had heard before becoming a parent, she said it had identified children as one of the biggest challenges to maintaining a writing routine.
At the time, she had laughed at the observation, but her experience as a mother had given her a different perspective.
"I have a child, I sit at the computer to write, I'm trying, (and then) I fall asleep. So, everything is slowed down at the moment," she said.
Meanwhile, Apte is preparing for the release of her upcoming Netflix series Akka, a gangster drama set in the 1980s.
The series also features Keerthy Suresh in a lead role and is scheduled to premiere on October 30.