Radhika Apte is known for her unapologetic stance and versatility in performing fearless roles in Hindi and regional cinema. The actress, who welcomed a baby girl in December 2024, opened up on the challenges of managing work and life in the industry as a new mother, sharing how she barely had a maternity break, and the toll it’s already taking on her physical and mental health. Days after Deepika Padukone’s exit from Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s upcoming project, Spirit, Radhika shared her experience of navigating the industry as a fellow new mom.
Radhika Apte recalls getting hardly a week’s break postpartum
Radhika’s pregnancy made headlines when she walked the red carpet at the BAFTA Awards last year, glowing with joy as her film, Sister Midnight, was nominated in the Outstanding Debut category. However, just a week after delivering her baby girl in December 2024, the actress was back to attending meetings on Zoom calls, while breastfeeding, as she revealed in a powerful Instagram post.
Even during her pregnancy, Radhika worked tirelessly, submitting a script draft just a day before she went into labour. In a recent conversation from London with SCREEN, the actress shared her views on whether she felt the film industry is ‘conducive’ to the needs of new moms. Radhika expressed her concern about the matter and said:
“I don’t think they are. I don’t know how I’m going to navigate that going ahead… It’s really difficult to work in our film industry, given the number of hours and how we film generally, and the time for which we don’t get to see the child. So I guess I’ll just have to figure it out now.”
The conversation around motherhood and flexibility in Bollywood
Radhika Apte’s remarks came at a time when discussions about professional flexibility regarding motherhood and new parents are gaining momentum in Bollywood. Just recently, Deepika Padukone reportedly exited Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit due to her request for an eight-hour shift being denied. Saif Ali Khan and Ajay Devgn have also spoken in favour of shorter workdays and prioritising family.
A few days ago, during the trailer launch event of Maa, Ajay Devgn addressed the ongoing debate over an 8-hour work shift demand for new moms. The Raid 2 actor hinted that the demand is rarely taken well in the industry, adding that this should not be a for ‘honest filmmakers’. He remarked:
“It’s not that it’s not going down well with people. Most of the honest filmmakers will not have problems with it.”
Amid Deepika’s 8-hour shift demand, Saif advocates for more family time for actors
Not only Ajay Devgn but also Saif Ali Khan came forward in support of the need for more family time for actors. During a recent discussion at the Arab Media Summit, the actor shared the struggle of balancing professional commitments with family moments while working in the industry. He explained how, due to lengthy working hours, he often comes home to find his kids, Taimur and Jeh, asleep. In his words:
“I hate coming home and seeing the kids already asleep. That’s not success. Success is being able to say, ‘No, I need to go home now to catch that half hour with them.’ We get four holidays a year, and when my kids are on break, I don’t work. That time is sacred… Working is important, yes. But so is cooking pasta together, having a meal, and focusing on the kids. That’s the real glue of life. Success and privilege, for me, is being able to say no to work and yes to time with my family.”
What are your thoughts on Radhika Apte’s remarks that the film industry is not helpful for new mothers?
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