Whenever she gorges on ice cream, it reminds Radhikka Madan of her growing-up days in Delhi. On Ice Cream Day today, the actress recounts, “I remember in Delhi we would often go out for a walk after dinner and then have an ice cream. It would either be a kulfi or thele waali ice cream. My favourite was an ice cream called mango dude. I love having ice creams.”

Radhikka may be vegan today, but she has plenty of options.

“The way the vegan culture is in the urban cities people can find lots of options if they want to,” the Angrezi Medium actress mentions, adding, “If you open my freezer, you will find every flavour of ice cream there – from mint chocolate chip to strawberry crush. And all of them are vegan. I have found my brands; I don’t feel like I am compromising on anything.”

The actress has also tried making ice cream at home. “I have made ice cream with almond milk, but the texture was slightly different. I used to make ice cream at home, especially during the lockdown, with my mother… sometimes it would be good and sometimes bad,” she laughs.

Kareena Kapoor Khan: Mint chocolate chip

Sanya Malhotra: Chocolate chip

Arjun Kapoor: Dark chocolate

Tabu: Unko koi samajh toh paaye! She’s bourbon vanilla because she’s like a white canvas; you can paint any colour on her.

Your first co-star Shakti Arora: Strawberry because he is a softie at heart.

She began her career on television before taking the big leap into Bollywood. And, over the past couple of years, she has worked with filmmakers like Vishal Bhardwaj (Pataakha), Vasan Bala (Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota) and Homi Adajania (Angrezi Medium). In an interview with BT, Delhi girl Radhika Madan talks about her experiences as an outsider in the industry, feeling at home in Mumbai and working in the new normal. Excerpts...

Of course, they are worried for me, but I tell them that these things happen in every field. It is all about the choices you make as an individual. I keep reminding my parents about the good people who are around me in the industry, like an extended family. Over a period of time, I have built great equations with Vishal sir (Bhardwaj), Vasan sir (Bala) and Sanya (Malhotra). In fact, my mom has Sanya’s phone number and in case I am not reachable, she calls her. Personally, I have no complaints about this place.

Sushant was the person who inspired me to take this leap. When I decided to make the transition from TV to movies, I was discouraged, but I looked at his journey with pride. I met him just once at an award show and didn’t know him personally. Talking about the film industry, it is quite accommodating. I feel at home in Bollywood, I have found my family here. In such a short span of time, I got a chance to work with several talented filmmakers, and a brilliant actor like Irrfan. I am extremely passionate about what I do. I have worked hard every single day to reach where I am.

After coming back, I shot for a few commercials and other brand commitments. The new normal makes you feel like you are surrounded by aliens, thanks to the PPE kits (laughs!). My team and I had to undergo Coronavirus tests before we began the shoot. We also have regular temperature checks, and have to pass through the sanitisation tunnel on the set. Also, the crew is very small, but a limited crew needs better planning, because the quality of work is still the same. Having said that, I do miss the good old days!

Radhika Madan, who had flown off to Delhi in May, returned to Mumbai in August. She has a couple of days’ work left on Shiddat and shooting was to resume in September. “I wanted to get back into shape, watch the rushes and plan my graph accordingly, so, I came back a month early from Delhi. But in the present scenario, I don’t think the shoot is happening anytime soon,” she sighs.

The actress admits that her parents weren’t sure she should get back to Mumbai just yet. But she assured them that this is the new normal and they have to get used to it while taking all precautions. “I had some initial apprehensions myself till I did a few campaigns. There were sanitisation machines and oximeters all around and temperature checks were being done regularly. I saw my team after six months, they were unrecognisable, outfitted in PPE kits. I couldn’t even hug them, we had to be content with a namaste. Everyone looked like an alien, I hope this will change soon,” Radhika says fervently.

And how has Mumbai changed in the last three months? “There’s more traffic. For a moment, I thought Mumbai had forgotten that the Coronavirus still exists. I live next to a beach and see a lot of people there, not wearing masks or even maintaining social distance. It makes me terrified and frustrated since we are still in the midst of a pandemic,” she shares, saying that, on her part, whenever she sees someone flouting the rules, she reminds them of the new norms. “The authorities need to take charge and news channels need to highlight this. Since nobody is pointing it out, the fear is going away, and that puts all of us at a risk, especially those with serious health issues.”

Meanwhile, Radhika has signed a couple of projects that require a lot of training and will take up a large part of the remaining year. Prod her for details and she zips up. With the shoot of Shiddat still uncertain, does she plan to go back home? “I don’t want to travel unnecessarily, it’s not safe for my parents and I would have to quarantine myself for 14 days and could be called back in those two weeks. Even though the city is unlocking, I haven’t stepped out unless it is for work. Not even for a haircut or to get my eyebrows done,” she laughs. 

The actress, who has been with her family in Delhi for a month now, has been educating her father about social media, apart from imparting some health tips to him
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; June 28, 2020)

It’s been a month since Radhika Madan left Mumbai for her hometown, Delhi. The Angrezi Medium actress is enjoying the break, as this is the first time after entering showbiz that she has got an opportunity to stay for this long at her parents’ home. “Usually, I would just come here for a day or two and fly back,” says Radhika, who is also busy explaining to her curious father, Sujit Madan, why it is necessary “to put up a video and picture on social media everyday to keep the fans engaged.”

She adds, “Initially, dad used to find all this quite strange. He would ask me what purpose does it serve to constantly engage with others on social media. Otherwise, he’s tech-savvy. He is a businessman, and he enjoys learning about the latest technology and apps. It is just that he didn’t understand the world of photo-sharing and video-sharing platforms. Now, though, he’s started understanding and enjoying it better. I won’t be surprised if he comes up with a page of his own (laughs!).”

Radhika feels that their roles have reversed, as these days, she is taking care of her father. “There is definitely a role-reversal. The day I came back to Delhi, I got rid of all the sugar and dairy products. I scold him a lot when he neglects his health. I also make it mandatory for him to take an hour-long evening walk. He calls me Gabbar of the house, but he is a good student and listens to me,” she shares.

Talking about the special bond she shares with her dad, the actress says, “Dad has done a lot for me. While mom was against me entering showbiz, he encouraged me to pursue my dreams. He was even okay with me dropping out of college to take up my first television show (Meri Aashiqui Tum Se Hi, 2014). When I moved to Mumbai, I was just a teenager. Though he was in Delhi, he took care of every need of mine. In fact, even today, when I am earning well, my dad insists on paying my house rent.”

Radhika Madan reunites with family; remembers screen dad Irrfan Khan
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 8, 2020)

On May 26, wearing protective gear, including mask and gloves, Radhika Madan left Mumbai for Delhi after spending almost two months in isolation. The journey was different, but as she points out, it’s the new normal now, with temperature checks and sanitisation measures, shields to be worn over masks with a kind of magnifying glass-like mechanism to check your ID and boarding pass and ensure zero physical contact. Getting back to her hometown, she asserts, “feels like I’m back to normalcy after the end of an apocalypse,” though she voluntarily quarantined herself for 14 days.

Happy to be back with her family in the midst of the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, the actress is careful not to attract any negative thoughts. “But God forbid, if something was to happen, I would want to be close to my loved ones,” she says fervently, adding that she managed to stay productive through the uncertainties of the lockdown by learning how to play the piano and tap dancing, taking an online acting course and cooking.

Radhika celebrated her 25th birthday on May 1. A month later, it remains a rather emotional day. “Since Irrfan (Khan, Angrezi Medium co-star) sir had passed away only a few days before my birthday, I didn’t feel like doing anything. But some of my friends, including Sanya (Malhotra, Pataakha co-star), Vishal (Bhardwaj, Pataakha director) sir, Vasan (Bala, who directed her in Mard Ko Dard Nahin Hota) sir and Abhimanyu (Dassani, MKDNH co-star) made a video and had a cake delivered to my house. That made me smile and I felt special,” she reminisces, pointing out that it was her first virtual party.

Angrezi Medium released on March 13. A day later, cinema halls were closed across Maharashtra, a nation-wide shutdown followed soon after, quashing all prospects of a theatrical run for the film. But Radhika has no complaints. “What happened was beyond our control and way bigger than individual interests. We made the film to entertain and so, we decided to release it digitally within a month. The response was overwhelming,” she exults.

Bring up the subject of Irrfan and Radhika admits she would observe him on the sets every day “like a hawk”. Describing it as a great learning exercise, she says, “Now, I want to carry forward Irrfan sir’s legacy of doing content-driven cinema. I came on board Angrezi Medium with the pre-conceived notion that ‘Irrfan Khan, the international star’ would have instructions for me for every scene. But he shattered it by asking for my input on the very first day. The respect he gave me was freeing.”

Radhika’s next release is the Dinesh Vijan and Bhushan Kumar production, Shiddat, directed by Kunal Deshmukh. It also features Mohit Raina, Diana Penty and Sunny Kaushal and wrapped up before the lockdown was enforced. “I play a swimmer in this love story, which is a new genre for me,” she concludes.

Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; May 30, 2020)

“Home is where your mom is,” says Radhika Madan, who hails from Delhi. So, it wasn’t a surprise that the Angrezi Medium actress decided to fly home earlier this week, to be with her family as soon as domestic flight operations resumed. Radhika says, “We are in the midst of a pandemic, and these are such unprecedented times that I really wanted to be with my family. I don’t wish to harbour any negative thoughts, but God forbid if something was to happen, I would want to be close to them.”

Though flying between Mumbai and Delhi isn’t new to Radhika, this journey proved to be a novel experience. She shares, “It was an extremely different experience. The new normal, as they say. Some new protocols were followed, like temperature checks and sanitisation. Passengers were provided shields, which were to be worn over the masks. There was no physical contact, and the process was absolutely thorough. I had done a lot of research before travelling and followed all safety measures and precautions. I wasn’t scared, but I was cautious. I followed the rules of social distancing throughout the journey.”

The actress is currently in self-quarantine and is biding her time before she can reunite with her family. She says, “It’s not that I have been asked to self-quarantine, but I have decided to isolate myself for 14 days for the safety of my family. So yes, it will be another two weeks before I get to meet them.”

Ask Radhika about her plans to return to Mumbai, and she replies, “Home is where your mom is. It feels very relaxing to be back here. I will return to Mumbai as soon as things get back to normal. For now, I just want to be around my family.”
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Angrezi Medium actor Radhika chronicles travelling to hometown Delhi amid strict safety protocol adopted by airports
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; May 30, 2020)

Radhika Madan, who was stuck in Mumbai since March, flew down to hometown Delhi on Wednesday. In a flight full of people wearing masks, visors and gloves, the actor got a taste of how life will be post-Coronavirus pandemic. "It was a scene out of an apocalyptic film and this is perhaps our future," says Madan.

Admitting she was wary of travelling in the current scenario, she says that the safety measures adopted at the airports reassured her. "They did temperature checks, and ensured there was zero physical contact — we had to show our IDs and boarding passes through a glass shield; there were glass barriers at baggage counters too. [The airline staff] boarded and de-boarded us sequentially, two rows at a time, [thus ensuring there was no crowding]. I avoided using the washrooms. I was cautious, but not scared."

Relieved as she is to have reunited with her family, Madan is practising the mandatory 14-day self-quarantine. "I am yet to hug them! Home is where your mom is. It is so calming to be back. During these times, I wanted to be around my parents."

Radhika Madan elated as Irrfan's Angrezi Medium, one of the worst-hit movies by the theatre shutdown, wins appreciation after its OTT premiere
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; April 23, 2020)

Radhika Madan was heartbroken when Angrezi Medium — a film that she had dedicated the past four months to — ran in theatres for only a day, before the shutdown of cinemas came into effect from March 14. But good things come to those who wait. The Irrfan-starrer was recently released on Disney+ Hotstar and has been winning viewers' hearts.

"I feel the movie is getting its due finally," says the actor, relieved that their labour of love has reached the audience. Though producer Dinesh Vijan initially toyed with the idea of releasing the comedy again after the situation returns to normalcy, the makers did a rethink. "We understood that the pandemic and its repercussions were far bigger than our individual interests. As a team, we reflected that we had made the film because we wanted to share the story and make people smile. So, it didn't make sense to delay the digital release. We did not want to wait and re-release the movie because there [is a backlog of] too many films."

Madan believes that viewers are able to identify with the father-daughter story more strongly today because the current scenario has made them value their relationships more than ever before. "People have written to me about the scenes they liked in the film. It was adorable to see fathers and daughters watching the film together and bonding over it. People are re-evaluating their priorities because of the Coronavirus lockdown. Now that I am away from my parents, I value them so much more, and the film highlights that emotion."

As told to Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 1, 2020)

Everyone thinks that the first film I shot for was Pataakha, when in reality it was Mard Ko Dard Nahin Hota (MKDNH). I had gone to audition for (Sajid Ali’s) Laila Majnu, where someone randomly asked me, “Action aata hai?” When I told them I had danced professionally, they took me to a room and made me do a few kicks. Before I could meet Sajid sir, I met Vasan (Bala, director of MKDNH) sir and he signed me.

Since I had zero interest in action, I started my prep by watching films in the genre every day; it was such a task. I took breaks every 10-15 minutes but forced myself to watch two films a day at least for a month. Then, my martial arts training began, which went on for four-five hours every day for 10 months. After that, I fell in love with action. Through my training, I got to learn a lot about martial artists; my trainer would tell me about their lifestyle to make me as disciplined as them. Sometimes, Abhimanyu (Dassani, co-star) and I would train together. We hit it off from the word go, but I didn’t know that he was Bhagyashree ma’am’s son until after I went to his house for a reading session. He would travel in autorickshaws while I owned a car. I felt bad and would offer him a ride, thinking of him as a newbie. I even bulled him at times, but he was always sweet.

My first day on set was unexpected. I was used to the grind of television. But the film set was so calm, I asked the production team if we were shooting that day or not. I was taken aback when they told me that I would be called in when I was ready. In TV, people would demand that I get ready in 15 minutes. I was in awe. I was used to doing seven-eight scenes a day. Here, there was only one shot scheduled.

For my first shot, I had to buy a contraceptive pill. It was funny because my parents had flown in from Delhi to surprise me. My father got awkward, wondering what he’d tell people when they asked him about the shoot. I had imagined leaves and flowers falling around and people applauding when I completed my first shot, but it wasn’t like that. It was over in just two-three takes. Afterwards, my parents took me out for a elebratory dinner and made such a big deal about the whole thing.

MKDNH changed my perception of the film industry. And the credit for that goes to Vasan sir and Vishal (Bhardwaj, Pataakha director) sir. I had auditioned for Pataakha right after the first schedule of MKDNH and after the second schedule, while I was in Goa, I got a call that Vishal sir wanted to meet me the next day. He sent me the script, I rehearsed at the airport and went directly to his office. He just asked me two things after the audition—Will I agree to get fat and tanned? I said ‘yes’.

I would always ask Vasan sir to give me a ‘hair flowing in the wind’ kind of scene, and he would laugh it off. But he eventually complied by giving me the introduction song in the film, where I am sliding off a car. He fulfilled my dreams in his own way.