Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
If conversations around desire on screen seem more open today, actor Radhika Apte says Indian cinema is still not entirely free. She said filmmakers have come a long way in addressing female desire, sexuality and relationships, but are still “walking on eggshells” in a culture where people get offended quickly and morality can become a roadblock for artists.
Speaking to India Today ahead of Lust Stories 3, the 41-year-old said audiences are not necessarily the problem when it comes to such stories. She spoke about the moral scrutiny around art, the sadness and friendship at the centre of her story in the anthology, reuniting with Vikramaditya Motwane, and what space, security and safety mean to her relationship with her husband Derek.
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Apte said artists are still working in an atmosphere where reactions can shape storytelling. “I think we are packaging everything very elegantly in general, and also for the audiences. I think people get offended very quickly, and that is a big problem, especially when you’re making art. You’d be surprised sometimes — you may not even know that you’ve offended somebody,” Radhika told India Today exclusively.
For her, the issue goes beyond the representation of female sexuality. “I was talking to someone about how actors are treated like gods and that whole syndrome. That’s part of the problem. There’s so much morality attached to everything. You can’t do something that doesn’t fit into somebody else’s idea of morality without it becoming a problem.”
At the same time, she acknowledged the progress Indian filmmakers have made. “Yes, we’re talking about female sexuality, male sexuality, going against traditions and all sorts of things. We’ve come a long way, and it’s great that we’re able to have these conversations. But we’re still walking on eggshells.” She added that she does not believe viewers themselves are necessarily resistant to such stories.
“Change comes slowly, so there is hope that eventually we’ll be able to express ourselves more freely. I think the larger audience is ready. I don’t think audiences are necessarily the problem — they’re open to these stories, and the makers and actors are ready too. It’s sometimes the other dynamics around it, the gatekeepers of morality and people getting offended very easily, that become problematic,” the actor said.
Lust Stories 3 and her character
Netflix has released the trailer for Lust Stories 3, the latest instalment in its anthology franchise about love, desire and complicated relationships. The four stories are directed by Vikramaditya Motwane, Kiran Rao, Shakun Batra and Vishal Bhardwaj, and the cast includes Konkona Sen Sharma, Radhika Apte, Aditi Rao Hydari, Radhika Madan, Vijay Varma and Abhishek Banerjee.
Speaking about her own story in the anthology, Apte said it carries sadness as well as emotional complexity. “I just felt a bit sad. There’s a tragedy to it as well — in how difficult it is for them to think about themselves or even recognise what they’re feeling. There’s so much at stake. If they simply do what they feel like doing, or even allow themselves to think about it, everything around them could collapse. That’s not easy. But I think the real thing is their friendship. That’s what holds the whole thing together.”
The project also reunited her with Motwane and a cast she said she was glad to work with. “Vikram and I have worked together before, so I was very happy when he asked me. I was also so happy to work with Koko (Konkana Sen). Then I found out Vijay (Varma) was on board, and then I found out about everyone else. It was a complete treat.”
On relationships, space and security
The conversation also turned personal as Apte reflected on companionship and the meaning of space in a relationship. “I have been in relationships where people think that I need certain space. But I personally feel that in my relationship with Derek (husband), I think we’ve never really had to ask each other for space. By making each other feel secure, we’ve actually ended up giving each other far more space. I think it works the other way around.”
She said that sense of security had shaped the relationship she shares with her husband. “We’ve always been like, ‘Whatever you need, we’ll give you.’ That has created so much security and space that there’s no jealousy. There’s a real sense of safety,” she added.
Apte ended by saying that relationships require effort, but should not feel toxic. “I also feel relationships are something you need to work hard at. One thing I’ve learnt so far in my life is that if a relationship is meant to be, love is peaceful. It isn’t toxic at all. If something constantly feels unsettling, I think your instincts are probably telling you something.”
Lust Stories 3 is set to premiere on Netflix on September 18.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
