Radhika Apte on women clashing on sets: 'Dated thought', men 'far more insecure'
Synopsis
Radhika Apte has called out one of Bollywood’s oldest myths — that women on set inevitably clash — as ‘ancient and dated,’ flipping the narrative by saying she finds men far more insecure. With her female-led Netflix crime drama ‘Akka’ dropping on 30 October 2026, her remarks arrive at an inflection point for gender representation in Indian streaming.
Key Takeaways
Radhika Apte called the notion that women clash on film sets an ‘ancient, old-school, dated thought.’ She said she finds men ‘far more insecure’ than women, and that workplace dynamics hinge on individual camaraderie, not gender.
The set of ‘Akka’ had a near-equal number of men and women, both in the cast and behind the camera, which Apte described as fostering a ‘nice sense of sisterhood.’ ‘Akka’ , a crime drama co-starring Keerthy Suresh and set in the fictional kingdom of Pernuru , premieres on Netflix on 30 October 2026 .
Actress Radhika Apte has pushed back against the widespread perception that women frequently clash with one another on film sets, calling it an ‘ancient, old-school, dated thought’ that she says no longer holds up to scrutiny. Speaking ahead of the release of her upcoming crime drama series “Akka” on Netflix, Apte said workplace dynamics are shaped by individual camaraderie rather than gender — and that, in her experience, men tend to be far more insecure than women.
Dismissing a Gendered Stereotype
When asked whether on-screen conflict between two strong women in “Akka” mirrored any real tensions off camera, Apte was direct. “It’s a very ancient, old-school, dated thought that women clash,” she said. “I haven’t actually heard that question in a long time because that’s really not true. I mean, I find men far more insecure than women.”
She was careful to add that the issue is not about gender at all. “To be honest, it’s not about men and women; it’s about camaraderie. You get along with some people, and you don’t get along with others,” she explained. The remark is notable given that conversations about on-set gender dynamics have gained renewed attention in Indian cinema following high-profile testimonies during the #MeToo and Hema Committee discussions.
The ‘Akka’ Set Experience
Apte described the atmosphere on the set of “Akka” as ‘lovely,’ pointing to a near-equal gender split both in the cast and in the crew working behind the scenes. “A lot of the cast members were women, and many of the people working behind the scenes were women too. I think there was a nice sense of sisterhood, which definitely made things more comfortable,” she said.
The series co-stars Keerthy Suresh and is set in the fictional kingdom of Pernuru. It is scheduled to premiere on Netflix on 30 October 2026.
On Professional Relationships
Apte further elaborated that professional cordiality does not require deep personal friendships, regardless of whether colleagues are men or women. “It’s not as if you become best friends with everyone, whether they’re men or women. Everybody is cordial and nice unless you have major issues with each other, which generally doesn’t happen,” she added.
The ‘Lust Stories’ actress’s remarks challenge a long-held industry trope — one that has historically been used, critics argue, to pit women against each other and discourage gender-diverse productions. Her comments come as the streaming industry increasingly greenlights female-led projects that require large women-centric casts and crews.
About ‘Akka’
“Akka” is a crime drama set in the fictional kingdom of Pernuru, featuring both Radhika Apte and Keerthy Suresh in lead roles. The series premieres on Netflix on 30 October 2026, and marks one of the more prominent female-led streaming releases of the season. All eyes will be on whether its reception reinforces Apte’s argument that a women-majority set is an asset, not a liability.
Point of View
And her pushback, backed by her own positive experience on ‘Akka,’ chips away at that justification. What is missing from the conversation, however, is systemic data: anecdote, however credible, is not the same as industry-wide evidence. As streaming platforms increasingly greenlight women-led content, the real test will be whether behind-the-scenes hiring patterns shift to match the on-screen ambition.
NationPress
26 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Radhika Apte say about women clashing on film sets?
Radhika Apte called the idea that women frequently clash on film sets an ‘ancient, old-school, dated thought,’ saying it is not true in her experience. She added that workplace harmony depends on individual camaraderie rather than gender, and that she finds men far more insecure than women.
What is Radhika Apte’s series ‘Akka’ about?
‘Akka’ is a crime drama set in the fictional kingdom of Pernuru, featuring Radhika Apte and Keerthy Suresh in lead roles. It is scheduled to premiere on Netflix on 30 October 2026.
How did Radhika Apte describe the atmosphere on the set of ‘Akka’?
Apte described the set as ‘lovely,’ noting that there was a near-equal number of men and women both in the cast and among the crew. She said this created a ‘nice sense of sisterhood’ that made the environment more comfortable.
Who stars alongside Radhika Apte in ‘Akka’?
Keerthy Suresh co-stars with Radhika Apte in ‘Akka.’ The crime drama releases on Netflix on 30 October 2026.
Why are Radhika Apte’s remarks about on-set gender dynamics significant?
Her comments challenge a long-held industry trope that women-majority sets are prone to conflict, a perception critics say has historically been used to discourage gender-diverse productions. The remarks come as Indian streaming platforms increasingly greenlight female-led projects.
