Radhika Apte

Radhika Charudutt Apte, born on 7 September 1985, is an Indian actress who works predominantly in Hindi television and films, alongside regional and independent projects. She first earned broad recognition in 2015 through her supporting performances in the Hindi releases Badlapur, Hunterrr, and Manjhi - The Mountain Man. She subsequently built a reputation for acclaimed leading performances in independent films such as Phobia and Parched.

Apte was born at Christian Medical College in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, to parents who were resident doctors. Raised in Pune, her father later became a neurosurgeon and hospital chairman. After beginning in a standard school, she was homeschooled alongside four neighbors by their parents, an arrangement that boosted her self-confidence. She later graduated from Fergusson College in Pune with a degree in Economics and Mathematics, while also completing eight years of Kathak dance training under exponent Rohini Bhate.

Apte began her acting journey in Pune theatre. She made her screen debut with a small role in the 2005 Hindi film Vaah! Life Ho Toh Aisi! and secured her first leading film role in the 2009 Bengali drama Antaheen. She continued working in regional and Hindi films, including Gho Mala Asla Hava, Rakta Charitra, and I Am. Following an initial demoralizing experience living in Mumbai, she moved to London for a year to study contemporary dance at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance before returning to re-establish her film career in Mumbai.

Throughout her career, Apte has balanced experimental theatre work with mainstream and art-house cinema. She played prominent leading roles in major commercial hits, including the Tamil action project Kabali (2016), the Hindi biographical drama Pad Man (2018), and the black comedy Andhadhun (2018). She also expanded into filmmaking by making her directorial debut with the short film The Sleepwalkers.

In 2018, Apte expanded her digital presence by starring in three Netflix productions: the anthology film Lust Stories, the thriller series Sacred Games, and the horror mini-series Ghoul. Her performance in Lust Stories earned her an International Emmy Award nomination, making her the first Indian actress to achieve this distinction. Her later projects include the Netflix films Raat Akeli Hai (2020) and Monica, O My Darling (2022), her role as Noor Inayat Khan in the American film A Call to Spy (2019), and a British Independent Film Award-nominated performance in Sister Midnight (2024).

Apte met London-based musician Benedict Taylor in 2011 while studying dance, and the couple married in 2012 before giving birth to a daughter in 2024. In addition to her active involvement with theatre groups such as Aasakta Kalamanch and public advocacy regarding sexual harassment in the film industry, she has endorsed commercial brands including Clinique, Sanfe, MCaffeine, and RIOPads.