Pallabi Purkayastha (BOMBAY TIMES; September 5, 2018)

Over the years, actress Radhika Apte has managed to strike a fine balance between indie films and commercial cinema. She’s now reached a point where the internet is obsessed with her presence and thousands of memes talk about her popularity. As much as she is enjoying the attention that’s being bestowed upon her, Radhika insists that she doesn’t aspire to be famous. “I don’t really go chasing fame; I don’t crave popularity. I like my work being appreciated, but I don’t keep track of it. To be honest, and I get embarrassed about this a lot, sometimes I don’t really know what’s happening around me. I don’t want to be famous, I just want to work,” she says rather candidly.

Ask her, if she would say ‘yes’ to a project purely based on its financial allure, she explains, “Yes, I will sign a film for the money. Because sometimes you don’t have the money to eat and you have to get work and maintain a lifestyle. Not just actors, I think everybody does that. No job on this planet is about 100 per cent satisfaction. You do some part of the job for money.”

While she believes in the power of money, she doesn’t quite have faith in easy rewards. Speaking about the path to success she says, “I think you can’t get anywhere without hard work. Even if you are born with a silver spoon, you have to work hard. I mean you could be offered films on a platter, but if you don’t get up in the morning and learn your lines, it is not going to work. You have to give it your best shot and deliver a good performance. Otherwise, you are not going to make it. In a field like ours, I think luck also plays a big role. Certain people get an opportunity because they happen to be in the right place at the right time. It has no bearing on their talent. I don’t think we should look at it and feel bitter about it. That’s the way the cookie crumbles in all professions.”