Radhika Apte Points Out Pregnancy Bias In Film Industry, "I wasn`t allowed to.."
Updated on: 08 August, 2025 03:12 PM IST |Shweta Shah
Radhika Apte recalls a producer insisted her to wear tight-fitting clothes during pregnancy
Apart from being an incredible actor, Radhika Apte has embraced the role of a doting mother after she welcomed her first child with husband Benedict Taylor.
The actress recently opened up about facing emotional and physical challenges she faced during her pregnancy, especially the biases that the industry carries.
Radhika, who is fresh off her stint in Hollywood, compared notes between how her pregnancy announcement was received in the Indian film industry as opposed to that in the West.
She encountered stark differences in treatment, behavioural change, and persistent biases against motherhood, one in India and the other abroad.
Radhika Apte on pregnancy bias in the Indian film industry
The Padman actress sat down with Neha Dhupia for a candid chat as a part of the latter`s initiative, Freedom to Feed, which champions motherhood and conversations around motherhood.
“An Indian producer I was working with wasn’t happy about the news,” Apte recalled, adding, “He responded coldly and even insisted I wear tight-fitting clothes despite my discomfort and bloating."
Also Read: Radhika Apte Says Film Industry is Not Conducive to New Mothers
"I was in my first trimester and had constant cravings; I was eating a lot, be it rice or pasta, and going through the usual physical changes, but instead of understanding, I was met with insensitivity. I wasn’t even allowed to see a doctor when I was in pain and feeling uneasy on set. That truly disheartened me,” she recalled.
Radhika Apte says Hollywood was supportive
In sharp contrast, Radhika spoke positively about her experience in Hollywood while she was working on an international project around the same time.
“The Hollywood filmmaker I was working with was so supportive. When I mentioned I was eating more than usual and might look like a completely different person by the end of the shoot, he laughed and said, ‘Don’t worry, even if you’re another person by the end of this project, it’s fine. Because you`re pregnant.’ That reassurance and warmth meant the world to me,” she shared.
Radhika Apte further emphasised, “I understand there are professional commitments, and I’ve always respected that. But a little empathy goes a long way. I wasn’t expecting special treatment, just kindness and basic humanity after sharing such a personal and joyous piece of news.”
There are small but sure changes coming through in Bollywood when it comes to setting boundaries for new mothers, thanks to actresses like Radhika Apte and Deepika Padukone, who are bold enough to demand changes to prioritise their personal lives.
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