Radhikka Madan has opened up about playing Sailee, a flawed, emotionally complex woman, in Netflix’s ‘Lust Stories 3’. In a recent interview, Madan spoke about why Shakun Batra‘s script drew her in, the unfair scrutiny women face when relationships fall apart, how far the portrayal of female desire has evolved on screen, and why she deliberately steers clear of roles that reduce women to mere “furniture.“
Radhikka Madan on playing Sailee in ‘Lust Stories 3’
Speaking to Mid-Day, the actor said the script and the opportunity to collaborate with director Shakun Batra were among the main reasons she chose the anthology. Madan said working with Batra had been on her list for a long time. She was also particularly drawn to the imperfections in Sailee and Ali Fazal’s character, describing both as flawed and layered.The actor also spoke about what she values in relationships. According to Madan, accepting one’s own flaws is important when letting go of the idea of a perfect partner. “It’s the idea of a perfect man that kills us,” she said.Madan added that empathy, respect, passion and kindness are qualities she values in a partner. Madan also praised her Lust Stories 3 co-star Ali Fazal, describing him as a fantastic actor as well as a kind and sweet person.
Radhikka Madan says women are judged quickly when relationships fail
Madan also addressed the scrutiny women often face when relationships break down. She pointed out that women are frequently held responsible for the success or failure of a household.“The idea of a woman in this country is, she is the one who makes or breaks the house. So, the boy has no part at all. We judge women very quickly,” she said.The actor also recalled her parents’ initial concerns when she decided to pursue acting. Madan said her mother was worried because of the negative stories about the film industry that she had encountered in news reports, magazines and gossip columns.“My family was very scared. What they had read in the news, magazines, gossip, everything. So, my mother was really scared. But my father supported and came to Mumbai with me. He even waited outside the office when I was auditioning and supported me,” she recalled.
Radhikka Madan on portraying women’s desire on screen
Madan believes the depiction of women’s desire in Indian cinema has changed considerably. Speaking specifically about ‘Lust Stories 3’, she praised the way the anthology approaches female desire without reducing it to sensationalism.“Especially in this anthology, we have openly shown women’s desire. And just the lens with which everybody showed that was just beautiful,” she said.According to Madan, cinema has increasingly moved away from portraying women primarily through objectification and sensationalisation, instead allowing female desire to be represented more naturally. She also pointed to the changing depth of female characters in contemporary films. However, Madan acknowledged that there are still projects in which female characters are given little narrative importance and are treated as mere objects.“The female characters are way more developed now. It’s not just for the male gaze. It’s well-sketched out these days,” she said.
Radhikka Madan reveals her red flag while choosing roles
For Madan, the way women are written and portrayed is an important consideration when deciding whether to take up a project. She made it clear that she does not want to play characters that exist merely as decorative elements within a story.“I would not want to play parts where women are treated like furniture,” she said.
Radhikka Madan’s current work slate
On the work front, Radhikka Madan will be seen in ‘Rumi’s Sharafat’ starring Raghav Binani, Sushil Dahiya and Sharib Hashmi.
