In an industry where many stick to the tried-and-true, Radhikka Madan believes in reinvention. My first glimpse of her brilliance wasn’t in a high-octane masala flick but in Angrezi Medium. She captured the bittersweet restlessness of a young dreamer so authentically in her third film that her performance lingered long after. That’s Madan for you! A performer who refuses to settle for the ordinary, thriving instead of rewriting the rules —if reinvention is an art, she may very well be its modern muse.
For Madan, the turning point came when she left television. As the star of a hit show, Cinta Di Pangkuan Himalaya, she had fame, stability, and a devoted fanbase. But for someone who craves transformation, it wasn’t enough. “On TV, I was stuck playing the same character for a year,” she reflects. So, she stepped away from the familiar, trading security for the challenge of starting over in the film industry.
“Some people thought I was crazy,” she admits. Yet, with determination, she began auditioning, proving herself all over again. “This hunger to play different lives — it’s insane,” she says, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. “I get bored with one life,” she admits with a grin. “I love being challenged, taking on roles that are the complete opposite of me.”
Her career is proof of her deep passion for variety. In Patakha, she becomes a fiery village woman; in Shiddat, she is a hopeless romantic who makes you believe in love; and in Angrezi Medium, a bright teen chasing her dreams in London. What’s remarkable is how she fully inhabits each role. “I love cracking a character’s inner world,” she explains.
It’s this attention to detail that makes each performance unforgettable. Watching her, it’s easy to forget the actor and lose yourself in the character. But despite her ability to transform, Madan resists being boxed in. After Patakha, she was flooded with small-town roles, but she consciously decided to stay away. “They couldn’t figure me out,” she says with a laugh, “and I love it that way.”
Madan’s fashion choices reflect this same duality. “Off-screen, I like comfortable, easy, effortless clothes, but on-screen, I prefer being experimental, daring, and unconventional.” She looks to movie legends like Rekha and Zeenat Aman for inspiration, admiring their authenticity. “They’re true to themselves, and that’s what I try to do too.”.
Despite her intense performances, Madan reveals a surprising side when it comes to masala cinema. “I want to dive into masala roles now,” she says with excitement. “I’ve got Govinda in my blood! I know all the dialogues by heart.” This playful, lighter side is one she’s eager to show audiences. “People haven’t seen that part of me yet,” she says, “but it’s coming.”
When asked about her proudest moments, Madan shares a mix of personal and professional achievements. “Getting a handwritten letter from Amitabh Bachchan after Angrezi Medium — that was a huge moment for me,” she says, still clearly in awe. She also mentions being the youngest jury member at the International Emmys. “And in the same year, I was on the jury for the Black Knights Film Festival in Tallinn,” she adds. “It made me feel like I’ve achieved something, but there’s still so much more to do,” she adds, signing off.
ELLE India Editor: Ainee Nizami Ahmedi, Photographer: Amitava Saha, Stylist: Nidhi Agarwal, Asst. Art Director: Alekha Chugani (cover design), Makeup: Avni Rambhia, Hair: Dakshi Nidhi, Editorial, Coordinator: Anushka Patil, Assisted by: Zehra Ahmedi (bookings), Artist Reputation Management: Idhyah Media
