Radhika Apte was dropped from major film for gaining weight?
What's the story
In a recent interview with India Today, Radhika Apte opened up about an early career setback that left her anxious about her weight. She revealed that she was dropped from a major film after gaining a few kilos during a vacation. "I was offered a huge project...it was written for me. I went on a trip, and I told them I'm not going to be on a diet." "I might come back a few kilos heavier, but I'll lose it."
Career setback
'This is so fat': Apte recalled makers' reaction
Apte said, "I came back, and they freaked out. They did a photoshoot with me, sat with my photographs, and said, 'This is so fat.' And they dropped me like this." The film became a massive hit and launched the careers of the actors who replaced her. "For some three or four kilos, I lost out on an opportunity that would have changed my career," she added.
Personal struggle
Apte's weight anxiety and belief in natural beauty
The incident triggered a weight anxiety that Apte had never experienced before. "Sometimes it really bothers me, the weight fluctuations, swellings, this, that." "I won't lie to you, it does. I feel like, 'Oh, I need to lose the weight that I've put on.' I keep thinking of it all the time," she confessed. However, what troubled her more was that this anxiety conflicted with her belief in natural beauty.
Changed outlook
Apte's perspective on the incident and beauty standards
With therapy, Apte connected her early rejection to later insecurities. She now views the incident as a blessing in disguise that shaped her into a stronger person. "It made me stronger. I can now say with more power that I'm not going to adhere to these notions. I'm not going to conform to your ideas of beauty," she asserted. Apte also called out the mental health cost of impossible beauty standards and society's fear of aging.
Defying standards
Apte's defiance of beauty norms and aging perception
Apte shot two movies just three months after giving birth. "I was three months postpartum when I shot two films. I am bigger than I've ever been...I'm going to be on camera, and I'm going to proudly be on camera," she said. She also highlighted the double standard around aging in cinema, saying men are seen as "aging like fine wine" while women are just "older." Apte was recently seen in Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders and Saali Mohabbat.