Radhika Apte

Radhika Apte (born 7 September 1985) is an Indian actress renowned for her versatile performances across Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Tamil and international productions. Raised in Vellore and later in Pune within a Marathi family of medical professionals, she studied economics and mathematics at Fergusson College before immersing herself in Kathak under Rohini Bhate and participating in Pune’s experimental theatre scene. After a brief, discouraging stint in Mumbai, she spent a transformative year in London learning contemporary dance at Trinity Laban, where she met her future husband Benedict Taylor. Returning to India, Apte made her screen debut in the fantasy drama Vaah! Life Ho Toh Aisi! (2005) and earned critical acclaim with the Bengali film Antaheen (2009), establishing her as a revelation among critics. From 2011 onward she balanced art‑house projects such as Phobia (2016) and Parched (2016) with mainstream successes like Kabali (2016), Pad Man (2018) and Andhadhun (2018), demonstrating a rare ability to navigate commercial and independent cinema. 2018 marked her breakthrough on the global streaming platform Netflix, starring in Lust Stories, the crime series Sacred Games and the horror mini‑series Ghoul, the former earning her an International Emmy nomination – the first for an Indian actress. Her subsequent work includes the biographical film A Call to Spy (2019), the murder‑mystery Raat Akeli Hai (2020) and the noir‑comedy Monica, O My Darling (2022). In 2024 she was nominated for a British Independent Film Award for Sister Midnight. Beyond film, Apte remains active in theatre, collaborating with the Aasakta Kalamanch troupe and performing in plays ranging from Bombay Black to That Time. She is also a vocal advocate for women’s rights, supporting the MeToo movement and speaking out against industry harassment. As a brand ambassador for Clinique, Sanfe and other products, and often described as the “poster child of OTT”, Radhika Apte continues to shape contemporary Indian cinema with fearless role choices and a commitment to artistic integrity.