Radhika Madan. There is a thehrav to her, a poise, a certainty that’s frankly mesmerising. You can sit with her in silence and she’ll still communicate, the sparkle of her eyes or the turn of her lips, which seem to be brimming with jest, remembering an inside joke only she’s privy to. She’s so sorted you want to open the account of your own life and let her tally the hits and misses. She’s enthusiastic as hell about acting. She can talk all day about her favourite performances without break and she’ll surely have a unique take on everything she saw. In an engaging interview, the actress talks about where life has led her and what more she wants from the journey. Excerpts:
How would you sum up 2023 for yourself? Did it meet your expectations?
Definitely. I exceeded it. I never expected I would be a jury member at the Emmy Awards and that too as the youngest jury member. Also, I was the first Indian actress to serve on the jury at the Tallinn Film Festival. It gives me a lot of validation and reinforces my belief in art and it just neutralises me, like, why am I acting and why am I here?
As an actor, are you satisfied with your career and films thus far?
I am not sure if I will ever be satisfied. I don’t think I’ve gotten there and accomplished anything. You just want to live so many different lives, do so much more and discover yourself with each film. I can only say that I am deeply grateful for whatever journey I have taken.
How would you describe your journey?
There was never an easy way. I’ve given countless auditions and continue to do so. Sometimes I am offered films, but I also insist on giving auditions because I need the opportunities. But I believe it is how you view your journey and struggles; you always learn from your low points in life and you must always keep your mind clear. You always need to get back to centre yourself and I have realised that life has been kind to me wherever I am dwelling in a struggling phase, something or the other happens and I actually get centred and return with renewed zeal and enthusiasm to deal with life’s daily ups and downs.
Has it been difficult for you to get work?
I’ll admit that I was fortunate to start with Vasan Bala and Vishal Bharadwaj. With Vishal ji, I went through four or five rounds of auditions, but I believe you are mentally prepared. I do not come from a wealthy background. When I moved to the city and decided to transition from television to film, I was mentally prepared for how I would get the project. I never had false hopes or assumed that it would be easy. I know I’ll have to fight for it; I’ll have to prove my worth in order to make a name for myself and break into the industry.
It’s said you were told to undergo a jaw job. Would you ever undergo surgery to look pretty on screen?
They all want a specific body type. When it comes to health, there is no room for insecurity. However, if you are talking about a specific nose size or jaw size, you are coming from an insecure place and are striving for perfection. We’re all imperfectly perfect. I believe in lots of self-love. I believe that we are all beautifully unique; we offer something special; that is how you know nature created us. It is critical for everyone to understand that everyone has acne, pimples, sugar, gains and loses weight—everybody goes through it. However, we only see airbrushed magazine covers and Instagram pictures. For me, beauty is defined by how authentic you can be, how much you can offer your unique self and how you believe in yourself and present yourself. I don’t want to pursue a specific shape or size, a specific face structure, a specific lip or nose, or anything similar. I believe I am extremely grateful for whatever nature has given me. That is something I own.
What’s your take on social media?
It’s easy to become overwhelmed. It is easy to seek validation from it. We never post our low points on Instagram because we want to post the perfect picture on social media. So we cannot assume that everybody’s lives are going so well. We must understand we are all sailing in the same boat and it is so important to vocalise it. It is so important to let it be a part of your life and not let it control you.
Your film, Sajini Shinde Ka Viral Video, was about social media trolling. What kind of feedback did you receive for this film?
We got nice critical acclaim for that. It is a very relevant film, especially in the need for social media and to just catch on to the body language or to the lisp, to crack the lisp that the character had, to make her relatable and all of that. It’s a really special film.
Every project of yours has been different from the others…
The reason I became an actor was because I was bored with one life. And maybe that’s the reason that every film and every character are so different from one another. Because I cannot live a life twice.
You played a drug dealer in Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo and one could see you enjoyed your role in the series.
Homi Adajania is like family to me. I had a great time with him and he really pushes me to my limits. He noticed me in Angrezi Medium and offered me Saas Bahu. So I’d like to thank him for recognising my potential. It’s actually both sides of the spectrum; Angrezi and Saas Bahu are diametrically opposed. So I’d like to credit Homi for that. He recognised that spectrum in me and gave me the opportunity because I have a lot of fire inside of me. It grows with each project and I am simply looking for opportunities or outlets to express my art.
What was your experience like working with Dimple Kapadia in Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo?
She is a pleasure to work with and an inspiration, and simply being in her presence was a joy. Like Irrfan Khan, she remains a student of life. She is the most nervous before any scene and I’m like, “Why are you nervous?” You’re a phenomenon. You’ll just eat the scene. But she’s amazing. She’s consistently the best student. She keeps rehearsing her lines, asking questions and never takes things for granted. It’s a lesson for us to never stop learning. You always give your all to every project and never take it for granted.
Working with him in Angrezi Medium really shaped me as an actor. Because he is one guy who always tells the truth. And he never makes a false note. He never stopped learning. I realised with Irrfan sir and Dimple ma’am that they never take their stardom or image; they are always learning. I miss him; I do watch his films and I also watched Angrezi Medium multiple times because sometimes I have to pinch myself to realise that I actually got to work with him.
Was Mumbai welcoming to you when you came here with your dreams?
I had no intention of becoming an actor; it was a stroke of luck. Everything was new to me from the moment I walked in; I had no preconceived notions. But I realised that no one knows the formula for success. They are all simply doing their best to make a mark. So we’re all just finding our own ways to do things based on our perceptions of what works and what doesn’t. You simply need to keep being yourself, following your instincts and pursuing the truth because that is what is honest to you and the best thing you can do in life.
What have you discovered about yourself in the last few years?
I’m celebrating my unique personality. I’m not trying to be anybody. I choose things that I truly believe in, which may or may not succeed, but I do not want to live someone else’s dream. I don’t want to pursue a dream that a director, my family, my agency, or my public relations department want for me. I want to live the dream that I have for myself. Even if I make a mistake, I’ll blame myself. I want to fail; I want to succeed, but it has to be my decision. I just want to do what my gut tells me to do. I don’t want to take myself too seriously. But I want to take my art seriously.
How would you sum up 2023 for yourself? Did it meet your expectations?
Definitely. I exceeded it. I never expected I would be a jury member at the Emmy Awards and that too as the youngest jury member. Also, I was the first Indian actress to serve on the jury at the Tallinn Film Festival. It gives me a lot of validation and reinforces my belief in art and it just neutralises me, like, why am I acting and why am I here?
As an actor, are you satisfied with your career and films thus far?
I am not sure if I will ever be satisfied. I don’t think I’ve gotten there and accomplished anything. You just want to live so many different lives, do so much more and discover yourself with each film. I can only say that I am deeply grateful for whatever journey I have taken.
How would you describe your journey?
There was never an easy way. I’ve given countless auditions and continue to do so. Sometimes I am offered films, but I also insist on giving auditions because I need the opportunities. But I believe it is how you view your journey and struggles; you always learn from your low points in life and you must always keep your mind clear. You always need to get back to centre yourself and I have realised that life has been kind to me wherever I am dwelling in a struggling phase, something or the other happens and I actually get centred and return with renewed zeal and enthusiasm to deal with life’s daily ups and downs.
Has it been difficult for you to get work?
I’ll admit that I was fortunate to start with Vasan Bala and Vishal Bharadwaj. With Vishal ji, I went through four or five rounds of auditions, but I believe you are mentally prepared. I do not come from a wealthy background. When I moved to the city and decided to transition from television to film, I was mentally prepared for how I would get the project. I never had false hopes or assumed that it would be easy. I know I’ll have to fight for it; I’ll have to prove my worth in order to make a name for myself and break into the industry.
It’s said you were told to undergo a jaw job. Would you ever undergo surgery to look pretty on screen?
They all want a specific body type. When it comes to health, there is no room for insecurity. However, if you are talking about a specific nose size or jaw size, you are coming from an insecure place and are striving for perfection. We’re all imperfectly perfect. I believe in lots of self-love. I believe that we are all beautifully unique; we offer something special; that is how you know nature created us. It is critical for everyone to understand that everyone has acne, pimples, sugar, gains and loses weight—everybody goes through it. However, we only see airbrushed magazine covers and Instagram pictures. For me, beauty is defined by how authentic you can be, how much you can offer your unique self and how you believe in yourself and present yourself. I don’t want to pursue a specific shape or size, a specific face structure, a specific lip or nose, or anything similar. I believe I am extremely grateful for whatever nature has given me. That is something I own.
What’s your take on social media?
It’s easy to become overwhelmed. It is easy to seek validation from it. We never post our low points on Instagram because we want to post the perfect picture on social media. So we cannot assume that everybody’s lives are going so well. We must understand we are all sailing in the same boat and it is so important to vocalise it. It is so important to let it be a part of your life and not let it control you.
Your film, Sajini Shinde Ka Viral Video, was about social media trolling. What kind of feedback did you receive for this film?
We got nice critical acclaim for that. It is a very relevant film, especially in the need for social media and to just catch on to the body language or to the lisp, to crack the lisp that the character had, to make her relatable and all of that. It’s a really special film.
Every project of yours has been different from the others…
The reason I became an actor was because I was bored with one life. And maybe that’s the reason that every film and every character are so different from one another. Because I cannot live a life twice.
You played a drug dealer in Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo and one could see you enjoyed your role in the series.
Homi Adajania is like family to me. I had a great time with him and he really pushes me to my limits. He noticed me in Angrezi Medium and offered me Saas Bahu. So I’d like to thank him for recognising my potential. It’s actually both sides of the spectrum; Angrezi and Saas Bahu are diametrically opposed. So I’d like to credit Homi for that. He recognised that spectrum in me and gave me the opportunity because I have a lot of fire inside of me. It grows with each project and I am simply looking for opportunities or outlets to express my art.
What was your experience like working with Dimple Kapadia in Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo?
She is a pleasure to work with and an inspiration, and simply being in her presence was a joy. Like Irrfan Khan, she remains a student of life. She is the most nervous before any scene and I’m like, “Why are you nervous?” You’re a phenomenon. You’ll just eat the scene. But she’s amazing. She’s consistently the best student. She keeps rehearsing her lines, asking questions and never takes things for granted. It’s a lesson for us to never stop learning. You always give your all to every project and never take it for granted.
Do you think you are lucky to work with Irrfan Khan?
Working with him in Angrezi Medium really shaped me as an actor. Because he is one guy who always tells the truth. And he never makes a false note. He never stopped learning. I realised with Irrfan sir and Dimple ma’am that they never take their stardom or image; they are always learning. I miss him; I do watch his films and I also watched Angrezi Medium multiple times because sometimes I have to pinch myself to realise that I actually got to work with him.
Was Mumbai welcoming to you when you came here with your dreams?
I had no intention of becoming an actor; it was a stroke of luck. Everything was new to me from the moment I walked in; I had no preconceived notions. But I realised that no one knows the formula for success. They are all simply doing their best to make a mark. So we’re all just finding our own ways to do things based on our perceptions of what works and what doesn’t. You simply need to keep being yourself, following your instincts and pursuing the truth because that is what is honest to you and the best thing you can do in life.
What have you discovered about yourself in the last few years?
I’m celebrating my unique personality. I’m not trying to be anybody. I choose things that I truly believe in, which may or may not succeed, but I do not want to live someone else’s dream. I don’t want to pursue a dream that a director, my family, my agency, or my public relations department want for me. I want to live the dream that I have for myself. Even if I make a mistake, I’ll blame myself. I want to fail; I want to succeed, but it has to be my decision. I just want to do what my gut tells me to do. I don’t want to take myself too seriously. But I want to take my art seriously.
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