Radhika Apte on why she stepped away from South Indian cinema

Actor Radhika Apte has revealed why she consciously stayed away from South Indian films after her 2019 release Chithiram Pesuthadi 2, pointing to a bias towards fair-skinned outsiders over local talent.

Views On Casting

Speaking to News18, Radhika stated that North Indian actors were often cast in southern projects simply because they were fairer. She questioned why local talent was overlooked when women down south are beautiful, talented, and know the language well, while actors from Bombay often cannot speak a word and rely on dubbed voices. She added that language became a real barrier for her, as she felt she could not do justice to roles without knowing the local language, despite having worked across seven different languages. Reflecting on her career, her past South Indian projects include Rakta Charitra in 2010, Vetri Selvan, Lion, and Rajinikanth's Kabali.

Set Experiences

Radhika also described the atmosphere on South Indian film sets as informal, noting that while it felt friendly and people treated her like family, it also meant she was expected to do things out of favour. In past remarks, she also recalled difficult experiences on certain sets where she faced demands like adding padding to her body when she was the only woman present without a manager or agent.

Upcoming Projects

Radhika will next be seen in the Netflix gangster drama Akka, which is set in the 1980s in the fictional South Indian kingdom of Pernuru. She plays the character Rudra, who is locked in a power struggle with Bhavani, played by Keerthy Suresh. The series is written and directed by Dharmaraj Shetty, produced by YRF Entertainment, and is scheduled to premiere on Netflix on October 30, 2026.

Context

Language barriers and regional casting preferences are long-standing topics of discussion within the Indian film industry. Actors working across different regional film industries frequently navigate distinct production cultures, language training, and local casting trends.