Big directors still won’t cast indie actors: Radhika Apte

The actor says that though there is a change in the film industry with the advent of women-centric films, indie actors are still not considered for lead roles by big directors.

The Indian film industry is changing. Today, movies such as Neerja and Sarbjit revolve around women. Speaking about the trend, Radhika Apte says, “The industry has been changing since a decade, and you will see that change if you compare today’s films with those from the ‘80s and the ‘90s. Also, small movies are being supported by popular actors nowadays. That’s a good thing.”

Radhika Apte’s recently released film Parched is produced by Ajay Devgn.

Watch: Trailer of Parched

However, the actor says directors of big-budget films are still not ready to cast indie actors. “It’s not their fault. If you have to make a `100 crore film, you have to make a profit of `300 crore. Our society also has to be more accepting. It’s a vicious cycle. The change is slow, but I’m sure it will happen over time,” she says.

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The disparity in pay between male and female actors in the Hindi as well as international film industries has been a topic of discussion for a while. Radhika says things are improving. “There are hierarchies in B-Town regarding many things, not just gender. Men also go through a lot in this industry. So, it’s not like because I’m a woman, I’m looked upon in a certain way,” she adds.

The actor, who has worked in films that are usually categorised as parallel cinema such as Badlapur (2015) and Manjhi: The Mountain Man (2015), says she is open to acting in a “masala entertainer”. “There are several masala films that are very entertaining. But, so far, I think what I have been offered in the complete mainstream masala genre hasn’t been very entertaining. My character should have some meat,” she adds.