Radhika Apte has opened up about the emotional complexity of her character Rudra in Netflix’s upcoming crime drama Akka. During the trailer launch, the actress spoke about the importance of empathy in her approach to acting, explaining why she believes every character deserves to be understood rather than simply judged. Her thoughtful response offered a glimpse into the process behind portraying Rudra, a character whose motivations and multiple shades play a crucial role in the series.
When asked how she ensured that Rudra had her own identity rather than being merely the opposing side of the conflict, Radhika explained that empathy is central to the roles she chooses. She said, “That's one thing I always follow and believe in. I would not play a character if I can't empathise with it. And the thing is, you can empathise with every character you do. I think acting is a profession. I actually do it because it's sort of taught me to be a more empathetic person. That's why I like it.”
The actress went on to reflect on how a character’s morality can depend on the perspective from which their story is viewed. Explaining her thoughts, she said, “So, is she a raas, as they say in the trailer? It depends on which perspective, what perspective you are aware of. I think everything is what you make them. No one's born evil.” Her words highlighted the complexity of human behaviour and the idea that people cannot always be understood through simple labels of good and bad.
Radhika also revealed that understanding Rudra required several conversations with director Dharmaraj Shetty, particularly because the character has shades that were unfamiliar to her. Recalling their early discussions, she said, “There are lots of shades of Rudra that I don't recognise. So me and Dharma had a long Zoom call at the beginning because I was like, it's all very new, the different shades. How do we come to that? How do I come there emotionally?” The discussions helped her explore the emotional motivations behind the character and find a way to approach those unfamiliar aspects of Rudra’s personality.
Emphasising that technical preparation alone cannot make a performance convincing, Radhika added, “You can figure out mannerisms and all these things, but emotions are universal, and if you don't relate to it, if you genuinely don't empathise with the character, it's fake and it can show on screen. Camera cannot—you can't really hide behind the camera. So I think that's my favourite part of my profession.” Her comments underlined her belief that authentic performances begin with an emotional connection to the people actors portray.
Produced by YRF Entertainment, Akka is set in the 1980s in the fictional South Indian city of Pernuru, where a matriarchal society is ruled by powerful women in the criminal underworld. The series centres on the intense rivalry between Bhavani, played by Keerthy Suresh, and Rudra, portrayed by Radhika Apte. The cast also includes Tanvi Azmi, Anshumaan Pushkar and Vishak Nair. Written and directed by Dharmaraj Shetty, the series is scheduled to premiere exclusively on Netflix on October 30, 2026. With its layered characters and conflict-driven narrative, Akka promises to explore how power, loyalty and perspective shape the choices people make.