Rachit Gupta (BOMBAY TIMES; September 27, 2018)

Making a transition from television to films has never been easy, but Radhika Madan, who first made an impression with the TV show, Meri Aashiqui Tumse Hi, is up for any challenge. She has learnt to be fearless and doesn’t hold back when it comes to her roles. Perhaps that’s why she fit into Vishal Bhardwaj’s Pataakha like the proverbial hand in a glove. With kicks, slaps and punches, she’s lived the role of the firebrand Badki with aplomb. No wonder then, that her camaraderie and chemistry with co-star Sanya Malhotra was pitch perfect. In a conversation with BT, the actress talks about her big Bollywood debut, the difference between TV and films and why she has absolutely no fear. Excerpts...

You are all set to make your Bollywood debut with a film helmed by an accomplished director like Vishal Bhardwaj. How does it feel?
I think I have lucked out with Pataakha. I went through three-four rounds of auditions, but kept telling myself that it would not materialise. ‘Woh log mujhe kyun lenge?’ was my line of thought. I made myself believe that I didn’t have a chance, because I wouldn’t get hurt if it didn’t happen.

Being a newcomer in movies, did you have apprehensions or inhibitions about taking up a feisty role, which requires you to slap and kick your co-star?
I believe that every actor has to live the character out. If you get stuck somewhere, the performance will come across as half-hearted and that’s when inhibitions can get the better of any performer. So, when I play a role, I don’t hold back. I run into my character at full speed and don’t look back. Be as scared as you want to be before you reach the set, but once you’re there, and once the camera starts rolling, have absolutely no fear.

Talking about fears and apprehensions, did Vishal’s guidance help ease the jitters?
The best thing about working with Vishal sir was that he didn’t treat me like a newcomer. He never took charge of my scenes, lines or character. He never told me, ‘Chalo main tumhe dikhata hoon, tumhe kaise aur kya karna hai’. He treated me as an actor and that made a lot of difference in the way I felt. In return, I treated him as my director, without bringing in the fact that he is a celebrated filmmaker and an icon. I made sure that my fan-girl behaviour did not get in the way of professionalism. He creates a conducive environment for his actors to get into the skin of their characters. He is also very receptive to ideas and suggestions, and is always on the lookout for a new perspective. I would be surprised whenever he encouraged us to contribute ideas.

How did you react when you were told that you have to slap, kick and bash up your co-star?
It’s exciting to do such stuff (laughs!) Sanya and I are best friends now, but when we were shooting for the film, once the camera would turn on, we would hate each other. After pack-up, we used to cry and hug each other, saying, ‘I’m so sorry, yaar’. However, we never spoke about going easy on each other. The feeling used to be, ‘Tu toh gayi abb’. It was pure hatred.

Usually, sisters in Hindi films are portrayed as epitomes of love and care. However, Chhutki and Badki are the polar opposite of these conventional characters. So, did it ever become hard to identify with them?
Asal zindagi mein, behnein vaisi hoti hi nahi hain. I used to fight with my elder brother with the same animosity. I used to give him a choke slam (wrestling manoeuvre). I have hit him with chappals, too. Unfortunately, my parents and relatives had made him swear that he would never hit his younger sister, but I used to take undue advantage of that and hit him more. My younger brother had it even worse. So, I spent my childhood doing the exact same things as Chhutki and Badki. Having said that, when it came to identifying with Badki, there was a time when I couldn’t really understand why she was like that. Vishal sir used to push both Sanya and me to think like these sisters and eventually, we understood that fighting was just a way of life for them.

You have worked with another acclaimed filmmaker, Vasan Bala, in Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota. Having worked with such reputed filmmakers in such intense films, do you feel that you have set high benchmarks for yourself, at the very start of your career?
I’ve spent enough time auditioning for roles, to realise that you need a certain degree of disillusionment to be able to focus. During the initial days, I once went to audition for what I felt, at that time, was a dream banner. However, I later realised that such hysteria does not help you, because that was the worst audition I ever gave in my career. That’s when I decided that I will not let reputations and expectations get the better of me.

You’ve been a star on TV with shows like Meri Aashiqui Tumse Hi. However, Bollywood functions very differently. So, with your transition to films, did you have to unlearn anything?
Whether you’re on TV or in films, you have to put your heart and soul into your performance. There are no shortcuts to success in any creative field. When you put your maximum effort into a role, it reflects on screen and that is what the audience appreciates, too. That is why I feel that actors should never lie to themselves. So, whether I work on a TV commercial, short film, web series or a feature film, I live and breathe the script. I spend sleepless nights obsessing over what I can do, to add depth and emotion to my performance. I make the script my one and only focus in life.