The actress, who has entertained audiences with significant performances in Marathi cinema, Bollywood and other film industries, is currently in the spotlight for her Netflix series ‘Akkka’. Actress Keerthy Suresh also plays an important role in the series. Both actresses have been actively promoting the show.
During a recent interview, Radhika spoke about her experience working in Telugu cinema. Without naming the film, she recalled having to portray a character who marries her maternal uncle.
“I worked in a Telugu film in which I had to settle down with my maternal uncle. It was the most difficult role of my life. I hated everything about that film,” Radhika said.
Her revelation left Keerthy surprised. Responding in a humorous manner, Keerthy explained that marriages between maternal uncles and nieces are quite common in Tamil and Telugu films. She said, “Marrying your maternal uncle is very common in Tamil and Telugu films. It is quite a normal thing there, where the character gets married to her maternal uncle.”
Radhika agreed with Keerthy but went on to explain that the experience involved several other uncomfortable aspects. She revealed that she also had to romance an actor who was much older than her. According to Radhika, the atmosphere and mindset on the sets were largely patriarchal, making the experience particularly difficult for her.
She also disclosed that her character dies midway through the film. Recalling an action sequence, Radhika said that another person had to carry her on his shoulders while performing the scene. She remembered constantly wondering, “When exactly is my character going to die?”
Although Radhika did not reveal the film's name during the interview, the scenes and circumstances she described indicate that she was referring to Boyapati Srinu's 2014 film ‘Legend’, which featured Nandamuri Balakrishna.
In the film, Radhika's character falls in love with her maternal uncle's son, who is referred to as ‘Bava’. Such relationships have also been part of traditional practices in Telugu and Tamil-speaking regions.
When ‘Legend’ was released in 2014, Balakrishna was 54 years old, while Radhika Apte was 29. The two actors had an age difference of 25 years.
Radhika's account has brought attention to her experience on the sets of the Telugu film, including the age gap between the lead actors, the relationship portrayed in the story and the patriarchal environment she recalled.
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