Female characters are best understood when directed by women: Radhika Narayan

As an actor, Radhika Narayan believes that it is her responsibility to take on roles that have a meaningful message. “We have a bigger role to play in the kind of roles we take on because that’s the message that the audiences absorb from the movie they see,” says the actress, who will be seen in the upcoming Daiji, directed by Akash Srivatsa, where she stars alongside Diganth Manchale and Ramesh Aravind, and Mahaan, directed by P C Shekar, where she stars opposite Vijay Raghavendra. In a conversation with Bangalore Times, she speaks about the importance of female representation, the demand for more localised narratives and more.‘Cinema needs More locally rooted stories’Speaking about the need for a collaborative and authentic approach to filmmaking, Radhika advocates for community-driven narratives. “When working on a movie, I believe we need to give new talent a chance. And, our collective effort should be towards making a story as locally rooted as possible. After all, it is not about just the actor or actress in the movie; the story is as important,” she says.‘It is time we update our warning labels before a movie’Advocating for greater social responsibility in filmmaking, Radhika says, “Warning labels include how no animals were harmed, or that drinking and smoking are bad for you. We also need to tell the audience that imitating a sexual assault scene or a fight scene is not good, too.”‘Actors have a responsibility to their audience’Reflecting on actors’ profound responsibility to their audience, Radhika notes, “Beyond its larger-than-life visuals, every movie carries a message. Actors, as figures people look up to, have a responsibility to choose roles that offer a valuable lesson. Murder, gore, and violence have been imitated by people so much after watching their heroes do it on the big screen, and it’s worrying.”‘Love from the audience trumps awards for a role’While industry accolades offer validation, Radhika believes the most powerful and enduring motivation for an actor comes directly from their audience. “It is the love from the audience that is both instantaneous and long-lasting at the same time. Nothing motivates you like the support you get from your fans,” she says.‘An actor’s skills won’t change after marriage’Addressing a persistent industry challenge, Radhika shares, “Even though times are changing, actresses who are married take longer to get roles. This has to change; they also deserve an equal chance. If you’re worried about her body changing post-marriage and childbirth, then give her an adequate role. If that actress is popular, especially among her fans, they will want to watch the movie.”‘It’s 2025 and objectification of women in cinema is still prevalent’“We have a long way to go for female representation in cinema,” Radhika states. “Earlier, we used to have much better representation because novels about women were made into films. Now, the view of a woman is becoming smaller. I feel the first step for stronger female representation in cinema can begin only when we stop objectifying women.”