“Everything About It, I Hated”: Radhika Apte Calls Out Patriarchy In Telugu Film
Actor Radhika Apte has spoken about an uncomfortable experience while working in Telugu cinema, describing a film role as deeply patriarchal and saying she “hated everything about it”.
Her remarks, made during a promotional interview for her series Akka alongside co-star Keerthy Suresh, have triggered a debate on social media, with viewers linking her comments to the 2014 Telugu film Legend, starring Nandamuri Balakrishna.
During the conversation with Zoom, Radhika was asked about the most challenging role of her career.
Recalling a Telugu film, she said, “There was a Telugu film I did where I had to marry my mama (maternal uncle) in the film. That was the most challenging film. Everything about it, I hated.”
Keerthy initially appeared surprised before explaining the cultural context to the host. “It’s a very Tamil and Telugu thing where you marry your uncle,” she said.
Radhika, however, explained that the storyline was not the only reason she found the experience difficult. “But I also had to romance a much older actor. It’s a very patriarchal situation and place, and for me that was the toughest thing,” she said.
She also expressed frustration over how her character was treated in the film, recalling that she was killed midway through the story. “And then I die in the middle of it. He had to throw me and then do action. I was like, ‘When am I going to die?’” she added.
Although Radhika did not identify the film or the actor, social media users have linked the description to Boyapati Srinu’s Legend, in which she starred opposite Balakrishna.
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The film was released in 2014, when Balakrishna was 54 and Radhika was 29. She later reunited with him in the 2015 film Lion. The identification remains based on online speculation and reports, as the actor has not named the project.
Her comments have also brought attention to her earlier criticism of colourism in South Indian cinema. In an interview with Galatta, Radhika questioned the preference for fair-skinned North Indian actors in southern films.
“Initially, I think the reason a lot of North Indian actresses were cast was because they were fair-skinned, and I find it appalling,” she said. She also pointed out that South Indian actresses are equally talented and deserve more opportunities.
Radhika has previously spoken about uncomfortable experiences on film sets, including an incident in which a crew allegedly pressured her to use extra padding around her hips and chest to appear curvier on screen.
She has also recalled an incident involving a senior male actor who allegedly tickled her feet without consent while she was resting on a set. She said she confronted him and asked him not to touch her.
Following the latest interview, some fans of Balakrishna criticised Radhika online and circulated an old promotional video in which she had praised the actor, describing him as humble and helpful during the filming of Legend.
