Odd Girl Out

Bollywood is betting on Radhika Apte as one of the most unusual actors of her generation

- Namrata Kedar

It’s a wet, rainy July morning at Mehboob Studio. The salmon pink on the set is still damp in awkward patches, taking its own time to dry. Set against it is a rack full of soothing nudes – a stark contrast to the dreary grey outside.

Apte walks in – all 5' 3" of her. She has a strong presence for someone that petite. The actor is set to leave for London that evening – we are racing against the clock. “I have been doing too many things simultaneously,” she sighs, as we chat on the ride back to her house, having successfully wrapped up our shoot in the limited time we had. “I was shooting for Bazaar, Andhadhun, Sacred Games and two Hollywood movies this year. To add to it, everything is happening across three different countries, and it’s been absolutely hectic. I haven’t had a single day off in many months. I’m finally taking a break and going to London on a holiday.” She adds: “Though not really” as an afterthought. Before I could probe any further, she says, “I still have packing to do” to no one in particular – making a mental checklist of all the things on her perhaps never-ending to-do list.