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Radhika Apte Calls Out Casting Bias Down South
28 Oct
Summary
- Actress cited casting fairer North Indian actresses over South Indian talent.
- Apte described some Telugu film sets as patriarchal and male-dominated.
- She recalled uncomfortable experiences like forced padding and lewd jokes.
Radhika Apte, known for her work in Hindi, South Indian, and OTT platforms, has recently explained her decision to step back from South Indian cinema. Around 2019, she found herself at odds with certain industry practices, particularly concerning casting.
Apte observed that producers often cast fairer actresses from North India for South Indian film projects. She expressed concern that talented South Indian actresses, who are fluent in the language and possess strong performing skills, are overlooked in favor of those from outside the region.
Furthermore, Apte recounted instances of deeply patriarchal and male-dominated environments, especially in Telugu cinema. She described past on-set experiences, including being asked to add padding to her body and enduring lewd jokes, which she found traumatic and vowed to avoid in the future.
Reflecting on her earlier experiences, Apte also acknowledged a more informal and familial atmosphere on some South Indian film sets, where she felt treated like family. However, she also noted that this could sometimes lead to expectations of reciprocal favors, which could be problematic.
