Actor Katrina Kaif recently faced criticism for her postpartum weight gain, and actor Radhikka Madan expresses solidarity with her. She insists that being a woman in itself brings barrage of judgement on looks, and she herself has been a victim of body-shaming.

"I had gained 15 kgs for Pataakha, and I was losing that weight through Shiddat and Angrezi Medium. I was told that I was 'too fat. Heroine kaise banegi ye'. I kept losing weight and shooting back-to-back, and fully became like bones. It started affecting my health, so I took a break,” she shares.

But it was realizing what actually mattered that changed her perspective. The actor adds, “Earlier, I was too fat, now I was too thin, and in between, I was neither here nor there. I asked myself why am I trying to please people when they will never be happy? So, I started focusing on feeling healthy rather than chasing a particular body size. Once you do that, others’ opinions don’t affect you as you become wiser. You don’t know what insecurity they [critiques] are coming from. But I have that security of knowing that now, I am chasing health.”

While she acknowledges that trolls would continue their criticism and one should ignore that, especially young girls who depend on social media validation in today’s age, Radhikka Madanadmits it’s easier said than done.

“Us time pe aisa hota nahi hai because we have this manicured idea and this burden, especially on girls, about how to look and what’s a perfect size. And if you aren’t fitting in that, you are going wrong. That conditioning comes from childhood as you see such women only on magazine covers. So, if I am sitting in a classroom with a unibrow and some facial hair, I will never feel enough as I am not that ideal woman. We have to realize that the idea of a perfect woman is fed to us,” she says.

Radhikka adds, “I find the idea of loving yourself a bit too cliché, but you have to accept yourself and have fun. Find your own quirks. In school, I even had a unibrow and was really hairy, but because my parenting was quite positive, I was hyped so much that I felt people don’t realize but I am beautiful. I had friends but I never felt the need for their validation to be seen. So, even when my unibrow went away, and people started noticing me, I judged them because I felt the same as before.”

The actor admits the journey to acceptance is long, chaotic and confusing. “But be on this journey of finding yourself, your ground, and start by accepting yourself because you are like a snowflake,” she ends.

Actor Radhikka Madan says she still “begs for auditions” despite earning praise for her performances, admitting that every project feels like a “do or die” situation. The actor, recently appreciated for her work in Subedaar by filmmaker Hansal Mehta, will next be seen in Lust Stories 3 in a segment directed by Shakun Batra alongside Ali Fazal.

“I have been a huge fan of Shakun’s work and when I got to know about the film, I begged for an audition for Lust Stories 3 and by God’s grace, I got it,” says Radhikka, who made her acting debut with TV show Meri Aashiqui Tum Se Hi before transitioning to films with Vishal Bhardwaj’s Pataakha in 2018.

Despite building a credible body of work, the actor says she cannot afford complacency. “I can’t afford to give an average performance. There are a lot of people in line for every role. Every work is a do or die situation for me. If I need to survive, I need to kill it,” she says.

Radhikka adds that she has no hesitation in chasing opportunities. “Even now, if there is a project people are not thinking of me for, I beg for an audition and I’m very comfortable with it. I don’t have that ego. I have a problem when I don’t even get the opportunity to audition and am crossed off because of my last name,” she says.

Radhikka also credits “actors like Kangana Ranaut, Vidya Balan, Deepika Padukone, Alia Bhatt and Tabu ma’am” for paving the way for stronger female-led roles in Bollywood.

Actor Radhikka Madan, who has spent over eight years in the Hindi film industry, says the journey has been “adventurous”. Currently, she is basking in the response to her recent release Subedaar, along with a notable endorsement from filmmaker Hansal Mehta, who recently said she “deserves better opportunities” in Bollywood.

Asked if she feels she hasn’t been offered the right opportunities, Radhikka says, “Whoever I’ve met in this industry, nobody feels they’ve achieved it all. Everybody feels that lack… that if only they got a certain project or worked with a particular filmmaker. I am yet to meet someone who says they are fully satisfied.”

However, she admits Mehta’s words have struck a chord. “Of course, it validates the itch I’ve had for years to strive to be the best. That acknowledgement is enough, because all you want is to be seen and heard. His words have given me fuel for years,” she says.

Recalling her initial reaction, Radhikka adds, “I was almost teary-eyed. When you enter this industry, you want to make a mark and be noticed by filmmakers you look up to. When someone like him supports you or voices what you’ve been feeling, it means a lot. It fuels my passion. I want to work harder and stay even more hungry.”

Radhikka Madan is the latest celebrity voice to join the ongoing debate on film industry work hours, noting a clear difference in how male and female actors can set their schedules.

“I have worked for 12-14 hours, but I have also seen work done in eight hours for certain actors. Kaam utna hi hota hai, voh unn hours mein hi nikaal lete hain. Project ban bhi jaata hai, movie hit bhi ho jaati hai. I have seen how it works because people then are focused and prepped ki uss din yeh shot lena hai, sirf eight hours hain. If that would not have happened, I would have said maybe itne hours mein kaam nahin ho paata hai,” says the 30-year-old, who will be seen next in Subedaar with actor Anil Kapoor.

This debate kicked off after there were reports of actor Deepika Padukone requesting an eight-hour workday for director Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit, a collaboration that eventually fell through. Since then, actors like Ajay Devgn, Pankaj Tripathi, and Rana Daggubati have also joined the conversation.

Radhikka adds, “If women are speaking out and demanding that [work-life] balance, it’s not new. If the reasons are understood by both the parties, and respect is there, it can be worked out. It is really weird when certain male actors are given that privilege and women are not.”

Radhikka says that as a result of adjusting to the working hours expected of her, she has experienced burnout — mental and physical exhaustion from prolonged work — multiple times.

She says, “I have experienced it a lot of times. A few years ago, I was working in seven projects in a single year. I went into depression, I was really drained. I had to seek help. Burnout is real, I just want equality in the industry and no special treatment given to certain male actors.”

Dinesh Vijan’s films have had a good run in theatres since last year — if Munjya and Stree 2 were among the few successes that Bollywood enjoyed in 2024, the producer delivered a blockbuster in Chhaava this year. Now, Maddock Films is gearing up for the release of Bhool Chuk Maaf, while Cocktail 2 will go on floors soon, and the scripting of Vicky Kaushal’s Mahavatar is underway. That’s quite a populous slate. But there’s more. Three of the banner’s films — Pooja Meri Jaan, Rumi Ki Sharafat, and Sarvagunn Sampanna — have been shot and ready, but staring at an uncertain future.

What’s been the hold-up? Sources say Vijan’s attempts to strike a deal for their OTT première haven’t worked out to his liking yet. He is confident of their content — after all, Huma Qureshi and Mrunal Thakur’s Pooja Meri Jaan highlights the issue of stalking, while Radhikka Madan’s Rumi Ki Sharafat is a social comedy

 “All these mid-sized films have varied subjects with strong performances, falling in line with the banner’s vision of bringing diverse content. But after being ready for over a year, they are facing delays as Dinesh hasn’t been able to crack a deal with streamers that befits these projects. He believes the films deserve a certain figure, but the platforms feel they are too expensive,” says a source.

Last year, mid-day had reported that Pooja Meri Jaan’s release was pushed from November 2024 as Vijan wanted it to premiere after Chhaava (Raja trumps Pooja, Oct 14). Rumi Ki Sharafat was shot in 2023, as was Sarvagunn Sampanna.

Another insider notes, “If one looks at it from Dinesh’s point of view, he is right. Maddock Films is in a position to wait it out. After the pandemic, the acquisition budgets have reduced. But Dinesh doesn’t want to sell them at a price that doesn’t do justice to their potential.”

mid-day reached out to Vijan’s team, who didn’t respond till press time.

Speculation around cosmetic enhancements — be it Botox, fillers, or plastic surgery — isn’t uncommon in the entertainment industry, often directed at female actors. Recently, Radhikka Madan and Mouni Roy were at the centre of such chatter on social media. While the actors have not confirmed undergoing any procedures, they addressed the commentary in their own ways, pushing back against the scrutiny.

An Instagram user shared a video featuring altered visuals of Radhikka, along with a caption suggesting that she had undergone cosmetic procedures. It read, “...Radhikka Madan looks unrecognizable now after all that cosmetic work.” The post went on to add, “Radhikka Madan really took notes from Mouni Roy — new face, new vibe”. The video caught attention, with many expressing shock and surprise.

In response, Radhikka wrote, “Bas itne hi eyebrows uper kare hai AI use karke? Aur karlo yaar..ye toh fir bhi natural lag raha hai.” The reply, laced with sarcasm and humour, has been praised by fans.

Meanwhile, Mouni has also responded to the plastic surgery rumours about her. At a recent event, she said that she ignores such comments. Trolls targeted the actor after she was spotted at the trailer launch of her film, The Bhootnii, a few weeks ago. A day later, she posted an Instagram reel in a black slip dress, which invited more criticism. One user wrote, “Surgery went wrong,” while another commented, “Every public appearance is a new plastic surgery”.

In a world where one is questioning if the concept of love has changed, and if the new generation looks at love and relationships from a different lens, Radhikka Madan admits, “I am very romantic.”

Talking about matters of the heart, the Angrezi Medium actress says, “When it comes to love, I’m either all in or all out. There’s no midway. I relate to shama ko dekh ke parwana jal jaata hai. I feel a lot of happiness in giving and loving, and I love being vulnerable. I like doing really OTT things when it comes to love. I absolutely love being in love.”

Ask Radhika, who was seen in Sarfira last year opposite Akshay Kumar, if she has ever been in an ek tarfa pyaar kind of a situation, and she says, “Movies have really somehow conditioned us to romanticize one sided love. I don't believe in that. I feel life is way too beautiful and pyaar baar baar hota hai. For me, self respect is very important and whoever you are giving love to should be worth it. He needs to not take your love for granted.”

Radhikka was recently seen in a music video, Sahiba, alongside Vijay Deverakonda. The song was based on the theme of unrequited love, and was sung by Jasleen Royal.

Radhikka is reportedly dating Call Me Bae actor, Vihaan Samat, however, she evades the question when asked if they are dating. “I am surrounded by a lot of love,” she signs off.

This year, Radhikka Madan and her elder brother, Arjun Madan, had three Raksha Bandhan celebrations. The first one took place earlier this month, when Arjun, a businessman in Canada, was visiting India. The second one was for our special Rakhi shoot at their Gurugram home. And on Raksha Bandhan today, they will be celebrating their bond for the third time.

“I grew up with five brothers, four being our cousins. I used to play cricket with them. Everyone practised chokeslams on me,” Radhikka laughs, as she goes on to talk about her brother.

Arjun, 33, says, “My mum once said, ‘You can’t raise a hand on your sister’.” And the actor took that as a reason to tease him. “I used to hit him a lot, he couldn’t do a thing,” Radhikka recalls, adding, “He was always very good at studies and excelled in everything, be it sports or academics. I was the oddball.”

Arjun reflects on his sister’s academic journey, revealing that Radhikka, 29, often sought his guidance. “I was and still am her go-to person. We both went to Delhi Public School in Mathura (Uttar Pradesh). She says she wasn’t good in studies, but she was.”

Arjun adds that Radhikka would keep an eye on him and report back to their mother: “She used to come home and say, ‘Arjun was bunking classes today with this girl’.”

Radhikka interjects, “I was trying to be destructive as I was chhoti. I was fascinated with senior school and would go to see his class. He was dating his then-girlfriend and now-wife. I would tell mum, ‘Yeh bhel puri khaata hai kisi ke saath.’ But she would say, ‘Yeh pagal ho gayi hai.’ I would insist, ‘Koi lambi si ladki hai, he plays basketball with her.’ I would constantly poke him.”

Talking about his sister’s journey in showbiz as an outsider, Arjun shares: “The easy thing for me is I boycotted social media a long time back. Being a coder before and now running my own business, I never take social media comments seriously. As far as she is concerned, I haven’t seen one project of hers I felt bad about.”

Radhikka adds, “He’s my bouncing board. I discuss every film offered to me with him. He’s my harshest critic and biggest cheerleader.”

Being an actor is exciting, and most in the profession would say that they wouldn’t trade it for any other job in the world. However, it comes with its own set of pitfalls and pain points. Six months into 2024, actress Radhikka Madan admits she is regaining the fire and the energy that she lost by being a workaholic. The actress did back-to-back seven projects in the last couple of years, and while on the seventh project, she realised, “I just didn’t have anything left in me. I was emotionally so drained.” Radhikka talks to us about battling insecurities, her safe zone in life and being confident in her own skin.

Talking about how some roles leave a deep impact, Radhikka explains, “Some characters were dark, and they did take a lot out of me. And I didn’t realize it at that point because I felt like I was a superwoman. But the moment the project ended, I realized that there were a lot of residual feelings about the character that I had played. The pain of some characters stayed with me.”

The actress who was seen in the web series Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo last year, talks about her safe zone in life. She shares, “I wouldn’t lie, there are days where you feel insecure. Not with respect to what others are getting, but it’s just about yourself. It has a lot to do with self-worth. Whenever those feelings pop up, I go back to my safe zone which is Delhi, where I have my family and my friends, and then I feel fine. I’ve realized that the more I stay in Mumbai, the more I’m surrounded by film industry talks, and somewhere, I start seeing life through that lens. And life is way more than just that. Whenever my confidence starts to waver, there’s a sign inside me that says…Go back to your roots, neutralize yourself and come back.”

The Angrezi Medium actress is glad that she’s at a point in her career where she doesn’t have to stress over bagging her next film. The actress who is ten films old, says, “Earlier, I felt insecure about whether I would get work, but not anymore. Now, I have the privilege of focusing on myself and my mental and physical health. Thankfully, I’m not in the position where I have to worry – will I get a job if I take so many breaks?”

There’s always been a lot of talk around the industry’s obsession with the idea of perfect beauty and the kind of pressure it puts on actors. Addressing that Radhikka says, “A lot of things are said to you about your face and your body. If you’re okay about it and you believe that it will help your confidence, then go for it (cosmetic enhancements). Why not? It’s your personal choice. I was told that I should get something done on my face. I didn’t agree. I didn’t want to get anything done because then I would keep chasing perfection. And life is not perfect. And would bother me if I didn’t find that perfection. Even your art is not perfect.”

He was a legend. Every artiste can say that Irrfan sir was a phenomenon. He gave us so many good films and memories. In fact, two days ago, I was missing him so much that I watched our film,” says Radhikka Madan, as she talks about her Angrezi Medium (2020) co-star, Irrfan, on his fourth death anniversary today.

Irrfan, who suffered from a rare neuroendocrine cancer, was not keeping well towards the last leg of the film’s shooting schedule in October 2019. Hence, Madan couldn’t spend a lot of time with him off the set. “I was already informed that he would be low on energy. We finished shooting in October 2019 and in April 2020, he passed away. He shot the last scene with me,” says the 28-year-old, who played his daughter in the film. She adds, “I only saw him as my father. I couldn’t get the opportunity of fangirling around him.”

Reminiscing the days spent with the late actor, who died at the age of 53, Madan remembers him as someone very “respectful and passionate”. The 28-year-old says, “Full credit to Irrfan sir for treating me like an equal and not a newcomer, and giving me that respect as a co-star. That was the biggest motivation and it gave me the confidence to believe in my gut and craft. He really inspired and encouraged me as a professional. I was always his student.”

Madan also feels that the late actor’s honesty and dedication reflected in his craft. “He couldn’t lie in a scene. That’s the biggest lesson I learnt from him as an actor that if you are not feeling the truth, you cannot just deliver the lines. You need to find the truth in every word,” she ends.

Radhika Madan, who hails from Delhi, moved to Mumbai to pursue a career in acting and instantly fell in love with the city. “I came to Mumbai in 2014, and it was love at first sight for me,” she says. As Valentine’s Day draws close, Radhika tells us about her romance with the city of dreams – Mumbai.

“I still remember my first day in the city, it seems very filmi to me. My father and I were travelling in a taxi with the windows rolled down, and I was enjoying the wind on my face. My father was whining about the small roads and houses, but I had turned a deaf ear to it because I was taking it all in and falling in love with every inch of the city,” the Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota actress recalls.

Calling Mumbai, a city that “feels like home” Radhika adds, “I am from Delhi, and I never thought that I would fall in love with another city. Mumbai has given me everything that I have today. It is a city for dreamers. It does test you, but it also supports and hugs you whenever needed. It fulfils all your dreams. And even if they don’t come true, it makes you realize why those dreams were not fulfilled. I do believe that there is a certain magic in the air of Mumbai.”

She also mentions, "I love walking down Marine Drive and having kacchi kairi with extra masala. It was one of the first things that I tried in Mumbai."

What is the most Mumbaiyaa thing that she has done? Ask her and she replies, "I have danced at a Ganpati procession with strangers. It was absolutely fun."

Radhika Madan is looking to take a small break from work to relax and rejuvenate. Having worked on projects such as Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo, Kuttey, and Sajini Shinde Ka Viral Video last year, the actor wants to press pause and take it slow in 2024.

“In the past year and a half, I shot for seven films, I am exhausted. I was emotionally empty because of back-to-back work. I didn’t have anything inside me to give, and that’s when I decided to take a break. I have several releases lined up this year because I have been working a lot. I had three films last year, which is not bad. For the past five to six months, I haven’t worked on anything. I have travelled a lot, spent time with my family and rejuvenated myself,” she reveals. She will next be seen in an Akshay Kumar-starrer, in Sanaa and Rumi Ki Sharafat.

When the 28-year-old is signing a project, she looks for roles with “a challenge”. She adds, “I am prioritizing my break so that I can give myself emotionally to my work. Unless I get a project that moves me or takes me to another level, in terms of my craft, only then will I take it on. I don’t want to play safe or do anything I’ve already done.”

Ask if she has a bucket list of films she would like to be a part of and Madan says, “I really want to dance, nobody has seen the Govinda in me. I also want to do hardcore commercial films — that’s my agenda this year.”

Actor Radhika Madan made headlines as the youngest jury member from India at this year’s International Emmy Awards. Initially surprised by the offer, the 28-year-old shares that she was in disbelief: “When I got to know I was going to be the youngest jury member from India, I just couldn’t believe it. I felt so proud!”

She also became the first Indian actor to join the jury at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival 2023 in Estonia. Madan expresses her excitement about the opportunity, saying, “To be a jury member was phenomenal. It was one of the most extraordinary experiences of my life.”

For her, festivals aren’t about “titles but about experiencing diversity and meeting people”, something that she finds “de-calibrating yet inspiring”. The actor further elaborates, “After attending a festival, you are even more charged and passionate to come back to your country and add something that you never did before.”

Addressing stereotypes about Indian cinema that she observed on international platforms, the Angrezi Medium (2020) actor remarks, “While singing and dancing are integral parts of our culture, our films reflect our versatility. We need to showcase our diversity to the world, as people still associate singing and dancing with Indian films at festivals.”

Reflecting on her experience at the Black Nights Film Festival, Madan shares, “Last year, when I went there with my film Sanaa, I learned so many things about my craft, and my mind opened so much about cinema since I got to see so many movies from all over the world. It was just fantastic to know that they wanted me back there.”

Radhika Madan found herself mired in controversy, not once but twice, after she spoke about her experiences of working in the television industry. The actress who began her journey in showbiz with the TV show Meri Aashiqui Tum Se Hi (2014) got trolled for the first time when she spoke about the hardships she faced while doing the show, and later, she got further flak when, according to people she took a ‘U-turn’ by talking about the positive aspects of working in the television industry.

Talking to us about how it all unfolded, Radhika says, “People were reacting to half information. They had not even heard the question that I was asked (during the interview). It is so heartbreaking. I was asked, ‘Why did I quit television?’ and so I told the truth. I stand by my words and will always share what led to the transition. Surprisingly, I have been saying the same thing since my first film Pataakha (2018). I have no idea why this time around it created such a stir!”

On being trolled for using TV as a stepping stone, Radhika says, “I never dreamed of becoming an actor. I was spotted on social media, called for an audition, and put in front of the camera (for the show). I kept learning while working in the show and eventually, I found my calling. It wasn’t a planned move. I didn’t use TV as a stepping stone to get into films. I only outgrew it. Maybe I am not capable of performing on the go and it doesn’t creatively satisfy me.”

Given that Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo sees Radhika Madan pull off one of her most risqué performances, the presumption that the actor resorted to a gruelling fitness regimen before the series rolled, wouldn’t be inappropriate.

Madan, however, refutes our opinion. “Only two days before [a body shot], I’d reduce the carb intake,” responds the actor, who flaunts an enviable frame in the Dimple Kapadia-starrer.

Her ability to look camera-ready within days traces back to her “clean eating habits”, throughout the year.

“Whether I must gain or lose weight, I will do it while adhering to a clean diet. I don’t consume refined or cold-pressed oils, dairy products, or white sugar. I pick jaggery, dates, or coconut instead,” says the PETA ambassador, adding that she hasn’t struggled to meet her protein requirements, despite adopting a vegan lifestyle. 

“I start my day with [protein-rich] sattu, and consume meals like chole, which also has high protein content. Dals are also a good option. Instead of rotis, I have dal ka cheelas. Bombay is such a good hub for vegans! There are so many options. If you are in south India, dosas, sambar and poha are also [healthy] alternatives. In north India, parathas made with clean ingredients are good options. There is no country [other than India] that is so rich in food varieties that are also healthy. No matter where we shoot, we are blessed to find good food alternatives.”

Synonymous with her career trajectory that had its share of highs and lows as she navigated her way from TV to films, Madan’s relationship with her body has also been a consciously evolving one. “I adopt a variety of practices, including pilates, swimming, crossfit, and martial arts. I read the Autobiography of a Yogi, and discovered kriya yoga, which changed my life. I no longer fear food. If I’m not shooting, I will consume fruits and rice. I will have some carbs in at least one meal. Developing self-love and having a positive body image go a long way in improving your mental health.”

Actor Radhika Madan won the Best Actor award at the recently held UK Asian Film Festival, for her upcoming film Sanaa (2022). Calling it “an overwhelming moment”, the actor says, “The reaction that we got at the screening, the tears that we shared, the hugs that we got and the love that we received — were our award. And my trophy is a cherry on the cake.”

The film had its world premiere at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival and was selected for official competition at the 23rd New York Film Festival in May. But Madan says she is still waiting to see if the accolades yield commercial success.

“For an actor, all recognition matters. I came from nowhere and I’m proud of my journey. But while international recognition puts your film in a bracket where people take it more seriously, I’m not too sure if it helps it grow monetarily or in terms of popularity,” she notes.

The 28-year-old plays a headstrong and ambitious protagonist waging war with her unhealed trauma. “I was scared, and didn’t know how I was going to do this character. The uncertainty, the room to play and the team were what really made me say yes,” she says.

Talking about the rigorous prep that she underwent for the role, Madan says that besides undertaking a lot of workshops, “I had to just live in an office for a month to prepare for my character. Also, being with Sudhanshu (Saria, director) really helped me crack the role”.

When choosing projects, Radhika Madan has a simple rule — go by your instinct. That’s exactly what she did when she gave her nod to Kacchey Limbu, which dropped on Jio Cinema last month.

“[Before] saying yes to Kacchey Limbu, I heard all sorts of advice about the films that work today, and how young actors should position themselves. But I chose it because I knew in my gut that this is a film I should do. When a script like this comes, you have to remind yourself why you became an actor in the first place. It’s hard to take risks with such films, but I don’t want to win the race, I want to enjoy it,” she starts, evidently taken by the movie about sibling revelry. 

While Shubham Yogi’s directorial venture — which had its première at the Toronto International Film Festival last year — aligns with the actor’s vision, her decision to team up with Akshay Kumar for the Soorarai Pottru remake seems uncharacteristic of her. The 27-year age gap between the leads was widely discussed on social media, especially since Madan has established herself as someone who wouldn’t conform to the lure of doing a star project just to have a big-ticket movie to her name.

“I was in love with Soorarai Pottru [2020], and the character essayed by Aparna [Balamurali]. I didn’t even know who was co-starring with me. I got to know at the last moment who my co-star was. My instinct was right [about the film]. After we finished shooting the remake, [the original] won five National Awards. I made the right choice of finding the right movie, regardless of who I am acting with.”

While she has the Soorarai Pottru remake and Sanaa in the pipeline, we wonder about the sequel to Madan’s film Shiddat (2021). Rumours are rife that she has been replaced by Parineeti Chopra. Madan clams up about it, only stating, “I have no idea about it. The makers are the right people to answer this.”

Earlier this week, the UK Asian Film Festival brought down the curtain on their 25th edition. Sanaa, the festival’s opening film that was screened at BFI Southbank in London, bagged two awards. While Radhika Madan was adjudged the Best Actor, Sudhanshu Saria walked away with the Best Director award.

Saria believes the Madan, Pooja Bhatt, and Sohum Shah-starrer is an important story that should reach a wide audience. In telling the story of a 28-year-old ambitious woman working in Mumbai, the movie addresses the subject of mental health and the lasting impact of unresolved trauma.

“Sanaa is truly a personal journey for me. To see it connect so deeply with the audience has been rewarding,” says the filmmaker, whose short film Knock Knock Knock won the National Award in 2021.

Madan, who counts Sanaa as one of her most powerful offerings, is thrilled that the audience and jury recognized its potential. The actor shares, “The audience’s reactions, their warm hugs and the tears we shared [after the screening] were also an award for me. Sudhanshu had so much belief in me. He empowered me and gave me so much love that I had no option but to love myself.”