Radhika Apte has spoken about long working hours during film shoots and the increasing depiction of violence in Hindi cinema. Following the birth of her daughter, the actress said she no longer wants to work 16-hour shifts and would prefer to complete her working day within 12 hours. She also said she wants to spend more time with her young daughter.
Apte made these comments in an interview with PTI ahead of the release of her upcoming Netflix series ‘Aka’. During the interview, she also discussed the factors she considers when choosing film projects.
Working Hours Have Changed After Motherhood
Radhika Apte said her routine changed after the birth of her daughter. While she was previously able to devote longer hours to work, she said that is no longer possible. She wants a full shooting day to be completed within 12 hours.
According to Apte, film sets can sometimes require actors to work for as long as 16 hours, while getting a break during the schedule can also be difficult. She said she wants to spend as much time as possible with her daughter, who is still very young, and that being with her at this stage is important to her.
The actress also acknowledged that her conditions are not accepted on every project. She said disagreements can arise when she refuses to work for extended hours.
Travel, Makeup and Styling Also Form Part of the Workday
Apte has previously expressed concerns about working hours in the film industry. In January 2026, she said that a 12-hour shift should not count only the time an actor spends in front of the camera.
She pointed out that travelling from home to the set, makeup, hairstyling and returning home after the shoot also take considerable time. According to Apte, if an actor takes two hours to reach a set, the shooting schedule should be planned accordingly.
She also wants a regular day off each week, saying that working continuously for several days can make it difficult to spend time with family. At the same time, she acknowledged that schedules may sometimes need to change according to the requirements of a film.
Motherhood Has Changed Her Approach to Work
Radhika Apte gave birth to her daughter in 2024. Her husband, Benedict Taylor, is a British musician and violinist. After becoming a mother, Apte has changed the way she approaches her work and is no longer in a hurry to accept every proposal.
In the interview, she said acting is an important part of her life but is not her entire life. At present, spending time with her daughter is among her priorities. She said she would not have a problem taking some time away from work if necessary.
Apte also said she had wanted to spend some time focusing on writing. However, finding time to write while taking care of her daughter has not been easy. She said there have been occasions when she sits down at the computer to write but is unable to make progress because of fatigue.
Apte Questions the Increasing Depiction of Violence
Alongside working hours, Apte also spoke about the increasing depiction of violence in Hindi films. She said films containing extensive fighting and violent scenes are currently doing well in cinemas, but she does not personally enjoy watching such content.
Apte questioned how people can sit comfortably eating popcorn while watching scenes of people being brutally beaten on screen. She said some films repeatedly introduce new and more cruel ways of depicting violence.
She referred to scenes involving people having their heads smashed or large numbers of people being beaten and said she does not understand how such violence can be presented as entertainment.
The actress made it clear that she does not want to become part of stories of this kind simply because of the current trend in films.
She Explains Why She Avoids Violence-Centred Films
Apte said current box-office trends can influence the work offered to actors. According to her, when producers give greater importance to a particular type of film, opportunities for stories based on different subjects can become limited.
She said films filled with violence do not attract her and that she wants to avoid stories in which cruelty is used as the primary means of entertaining audiences.
Apte has previously worked across different genres, including films dealing with serious social subjects as well as thrillers and comedies. She is now also taking her personal preferences and family requirements into account when selecting projects.
Apte Discusses the Box-Office Position of Female-Led Films
Radhika Apte also spoke about the box-office position of female-led films in the Hindi film industry. She said it is currently not easy for a film centred on a female actor in the lead role to secure a large theatrical opening.
She cited Alia Bhatt and Deepika Padukone as examples. According to Apte, producers may expect ticket sales based on the names of actresses such as Alia and Deepika, while the situation is different for other performers.
She said that even when a film led by an actress is good, it may not attract enough audiences in cinemas.
Apte said this can sometimes result in her having to work in films where the male actor's character is more prominent. However, she said she does not select a project solely on the basis of whether it will receive a theatrical release or premiere on an OTT platform.
Deepika Padukone's Eight-Hour Shift Demand Had Triggered Debate
The debate over working hours for actors in Bollywood also came into focus last year in connection with Deepika Padukone. She had spoken in favour of an eight-hour shift for film shoots, following which the demand generated different reactions within the film industry.
The issue was also discussed after Deepika's departure from Sandeep Reddy Vanga's film ‘Spirit’. Media reports cited her working hours and other professional differences as possible reasons, although all the terms surrounding the dispute were not officially confirmed.
Deepika later said that asking for defined working hours was not wrong. Apte has now shared her own experience on the subject. The two actresses, however, have different demands: Deepika supported an eight-hour shift, while Apte wants to complete her working day within 12 hours.
‘Aka’ to Release on Netflix on October 30
Radhika Apte is currently associated with her upcoming web series ‘Aka’, in which actress Keerthy Suresh is also playing a lead role. Netflix has scheduled the series for release on October 30, 2026. Its trailer has also been released.
The story of ‘Aka’ is set in the 1980s in Perunoor, a fictional city in South India where women have held influence for several generations. The story centres on power, family, revenge and a conflict between two powerful women.
Keerthy Suresh plays Bhavani, while Radhika Apte portrays Rudra. Both characters have their own objectives, and their differences drive the story forward.
Cast and Crew of ‘Aka’
The series is produced by Netflix and YRF Entertainment and has been written and directed by Dharmaraj Shetty. It marks his directorial debut.
Alongside Radhika Apte and Keerthy Suresh, Tanvi Azmi, Mahesh Manjrekar, Anshuman Pushkar and Monica Panwar have important roles in the series.
According to the makers, the story presents a women-led world in which different groups are engaged in a struggle to maintain control over power. The arrival of an outsider begins to disrupt existing relationships and the balance of power.
The gangster drama is set against a backdrop of conflict and violence. However, Apte's comments about excessive cruelty in her interview should not be interpreted as a specific statement about the series.
Apte Seeks to Balance Work and Family
Radhika Apte has worked in films including ‘Andhadhun’, ‘Badlapur’, ‘Parched’, ‘Pad Man’ and ‘Manjhi: The Mountain Man’. She has also appeared in OTT series such as ‘Sacred Games’ and ‘Ghoul’.
After nearly two decades in acting, Apte is now setting different boundaries around her work while seeking to make time for both her professional commitments and her family.
