26 October,2026 07:33 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Radhika Apte. Pic via special arrangement
Radhika Apte has opened up about playing Rudra in Akka, revealing that her character displays traits she considers "problematic" and "masculine". The actor stars alongside Keerthy Suresh in the crime thriller, set in 1980s Pernunu, a fictional South Indian city governed by a powerful matriarchal society.
In the series, Suresh plays Bhavani, the ruler of Pernunu, while Apte portrays Rudra, a Mumbai gangster who wants to dismantle the established order. Despite their opposing positions, the two characters are not presented as straightforward heroes or villains, with their motivations and moral choices adding complexity to the story.
In an interview with Variety India, Apte discussed whether she brings masculine energy to Rudra, particularly in contrast with Suresh's Bhavani. The actor acknowledged that her character's behaviour can be problematic but said understanding her motivations helps explain where those traits come from.
"I do, actually. I have a lot of things she says are quite problematic and quite masculine. But the more you understand the character, the more you see where it is coming from," Apte said.
Apte also explained that Rudra's relationship with herself is central to understanding her actions. Rather than being an advocate for women, the character's behaviour reflects a deeper personal conflict. "She's not on the side of women. That is because she is not on her side at all. There's zero self-love," Apte added.
Her comments suggest that Rudra's actions are not necessarily driven by a desire to challenge gender hierarchies or champion women. Instead, the character is shaped by her own struggles and motivations, making her more complicated than a conventional antagonist.
The names of the two central characters, Bhavani and Rudra, also evoke associations with Hindu deities, adding another layer to their contrasting identities. However, the actors emphasised that neither character is entirely right or wrong.
Suresh echoed Apte's view that Akka does not offer a clear division between its protagonist and antagonist. According to the actor, how audiences judge the characters depends on their perspective and the side of the story they choose to follow. "You cannot say who's the hero and who's the villain. It depends on your perspective. It depends on who is carrying the story and which side you are on," Suresh said.
Apte also clarified that the series should not be viewed solely as a story about female empowerment, describing it instead as a crime-driven narrative centred on two women. "The show is not about women, per se. It is a gangster story about two women. It's not going to be different in a more feminist or woman-empowering way. It is an entertaining gangster epic," she said.
The actor added that the team conducted extensive research into matriarchal gangs and businesses while developing the series. With Bhavani and Rudra on opposing sides, Akka explores power, morality and personal motivations without offering an easy distinction between right and wrong. Akka is scheduled to premiere on October 30, 2026.
