Radhika Apte recalls being asked to perform 'action scene in innerwear'

Actor Radhika Apte has recalled an uncomfortable experience on a film set when she was allegedly asked to perform an action sequence in her innerwear, saying she refused after questioning why the scene required her character to be dressed that way.

Speaking during a recent interaction, Radhika said the sequence involved her character being attacked while wearing lingerie and then fighting back. The actor said she objected to the requirement and questioned its relevance to the scene.

‘Why am I fighting?’

Recalling the conversation, Radhika said she was told about the sequence and immediately questioned why the action needed to take place while her character was in her innerwear.

She said the response she received suggested that those involved in the production had assumed she would be comfortable doing it.

“Yeh toh karlegi,” Radhika recalled being told, loosely translating to “She will do it”.

The actor said she refused to perform the scene as proposed, making it clear that she did not see a convincing reason for the character to be dressed in lingerie during the action sequence.

Radhika did not identify the film or the people involved while narrating the incident.

Setting boundaries

The actor used the experience to discuss the importance of performers establishing their own boundaries on sets rather than allowing assumptions about their previous work to determine what they would be expected to do in future projects.

Radhika has taken on unconventional and physically demanding roles during her career and has frequently spoken about nudity, intimacy and the way women are represented on screen.

She indicated that an actor having performed intimate or bold scenes previously should not be interpreted as automatic consent for similar scenes in every project.

The context of a sequence, she suggested, remained important in deciding whether she was comfortable performing it.

Industry assumptions

Radhika also reflected on how perceptions surrounding actors can influence the kind of scenes they are offered.

Her account highlighted the tendency to assume that an actor known for taking on unconventional roles would automatically agree to scenes involving exposure or intimacy.

The actor has previously spoken about the scrutiny women face over their appearance and choices in the entertainment industry, as well as the different standards that can apply to male and female performers.

Her latest remarks come as conversations around consent, intimacy coordination and boundaries on film sets have become increasingly prominent in the Indian entertainment industry.

Back with Lust Stories 3

On the work front, Radhika is part of Lust Stories 3, the latest instalment of the Netflix anthology franchise. The new edition brings together filmmakers and actors for separate stories exploring relationships, intimacy and contemporary social dynamics.

Radhika has previously appeared in several critically acclaimed films and streaming projects, including Andhadhun, Pad Man, Phobia, Parched, Sacred Games and Ghoul.

Known for moving between mainstream cinema, independent films and streaming productions, she has also worked in international projects.

Her latest recollection, however, turned attention away from individual roles to the larger question of agency on film sets — and the distinction between an actor choosing to perform a particular scene and filmmakers assuming that the actor will agree to it.