Radhikka Madan on Subedaar: 'Scariest part for me was the Kabaddi training; it’s not even in the final cut' | Exclusive

In an exclusive interview with OTTplay, Radhikka Madan discusses her Subedaar role with Anil Kapoor, detailing the intense prep and emotional toll while exploring a fractured father-daughter bond.

Radhikka Madan in a still from Subedaar

In the world of gritty Indian heartland dramas, few pairings have sparked as much curiosity as the high-octane father-daughter duo of Anil Kapoor and Radhikka Madan in Suresh Triveni’s Subedaar. Released on Prime Video on March 5, 2026, the film marks a shift for Madan, who trades her usual experimental indie flair for the raw, simmering intensity of Shyama. Set against a backdrop of corruption and the ruthless sand mafia, the story follows a retired soldier (played by Kapoor) navigating civilian life, but its true "soul"—as critics and the cast alike have noted—lies in the fractured, friction-filled bond between a father who was always away and a daughter who learned to survive in his absence.

Just days after the film’s global premiere, the buzz surrounding Madan’s performance is palpable. From her four-month training in Kabaddi (a skill that ultimately lived off-camera) to mastering a nuanced UP dialect, her dedication to the "scary" parts of a role remains her signature. In this exclusive conversation with OTTplay, the actor dives deep into the emotional wounds of her character, the experience of "constantly challenging" a veteran like Kapoor on set, and why she had to seek therapy to finally step out of the haunting shadows of her most intense roles.

Edited excerpts below...

You’ve stated that if a part makes you doubt yourself, you’re more likely to take it. What was the "scary" element in Subedaar that made you say yes?

Radhikka Madan: Honestly, the scariest part for me when I signed the film was Kabaddi. It’s actually not in the final cut anymore, but I trained for almost four months for it. It was extremely demanding physically; I even injured my back during training. Apart from that, the dialect was another big challenge. Shyama speaks in a UP dialect, and getting the nuances of that right required a lot of work. But what really drew me to the role was the emotional space between the father and daughter. There’s this quiet resentment and deep wound they both carry after losing the mother and learning to survive without her. Exploring that fragile emotional terrain was something that both scared me and excited me at the same time.

ALSO READ: Subedaar review: A powerhouse Anil Kapoor is trapped in a dated, trope-heavy script that fails to match his ageless charisma

While the film is a high-octane actioner, the "soul" of the story is family drama. How did you balance the physical demands of the setting with the internal emotional beats of your character?

Radhikka Madan: For me, the internal and external worlds of a character are deeply connected. If you understand the emotional core of the character well enough, the external aspects, the body language, the energy, and even the way you move begin to follow naturally. With Shyama, we spent a lot of time during prep really understanding her internal world, what she carries, what she suppresses, and how she sees her father. Once that was clear, when I stepped on set, I didn’t have to consciously balance anything. You simply become the character. The physical and emotional aspects start flowing together. But that only happens when you’ve done the groundwork: lots of discussions with the director and deep preparation beforehand. I enjoy that process because it allows you to let go completely once the camera rolls.

Anil Kapoor recently mentioned that you "constantly challenged" him on set. How did the two of you build that intense, friction-filled chemistry for Arjun and Shyama’s relationship?

Radhikka Madan: First of all, it was very gracious of Anil Kapoor Sir to say that. He is such a generous and gracious actor. What amazed me the most was the energy he brings to the set every single day. I genuinely believe acting is reacting. If someone like him is bringing 200 percent of himself to every scene, all you really have to do is respond honestly to that energy. It automatically elevates your performance. The father-daughter relationship in the film is actually my favourite part of the story because it grounds it emotionally. There’s so much complexity, hurt, and love beneath the surface between them. And honestly, I feel like we’ve only scratched the surface of that relationship. I would love to explore it even more if there’s a second part.

What did you learn about longevity in this industry from watching Anil Kapoor work?

Radhikka Madan: From what I observed while working with Anil sir, the biggest lesson is to never stop being a child at heart. It’s about keeping that curiosity, hunger, and drive alive no matter how long you’ve been in the industry. Even today, I see that same hunger in him on set. He still approaches work like a student, always present, always giving his 200%. Watching that energy up close was incredibly inspiring for me. It reminded me that longevity in this industry really comes from that passion, showing up every day with the same excitement and giving your heart and soul to the work. I think that’s something I’ll always carry with me.

Shyama is described as carrying a lot of fury and bitterness due to her father’s long absence. How did you tap into that specific brand of emotional resentment for this role?

Radhikka Madan: As an actor, I try very consciously not to bring Radhikka’s personal world into the character. Instead, I focus on understanding and absorbing the emotional wounds and struggles of the character I’m playing. I think I’m a very empathetic person, so I naturally tend to take on what the character is feeling and try to live through that emotional space. For Shyama, it required a lot of preparation because her inner world is layered with hurt, resentment, and unresolved emotions. I came in with a lot of questions about her psyche, her past, and what she carries internally. Some directors prefer actors to figure things out on their own, but Suresh sir was incredibly generous with his time and process. He sat with me and discussed every scene in detail, patiently answering all my questions. Those conversations really helped me understand Shyama more deeply and tap into her emotional landscape. The more we explored her inner world, the more organically that fury and bitterness started coming through in the performance.

You described Shyama as someone who looks "unbreakable". Do you relate more to that fierce exterior, or is it harder for you to protect your vulnerability?

Radhikka Madan: I actually relate to that aspect of Shyama quite a lot. I came to the city when I was very young; I was around 17 or 18, and suddenly I had to learn how to survive in a completely new environment and an industry I knew nothing about. When you go through that experience on your own, you naturally develop a strong exterior. In many ways, that strength becomes a form of survival. It helps you protect your inner world so that people don’t take advantage of your sensitivity or vulnerability. That was something I had to learn very early on: how to guard my emotional core while still staying sensitive as a person. And in that sense, I deeply relate to Shyama. She may appear unbreakable on the outside, but a lot of that strength comes from protecting what’s fragile within.

From Ray, Feels Like Ishq and Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo to the global premiere of Subedaar you’ve become a staple of streaming. How do you feel the OTT space has allowed you to experiment with characters?

Radhikka Madan: Honestly, for me, every space has been an opportunity to express myself as an actor, whether it’s television, OTT, or theatrical films. I don’t really look at the medium differently. For me, it always begins with the story and the script. If the material excites me, I approach it with the same sincerity and commitment, regardless of where it will be released. My process as an actor remains the same; I try to give my all to every character I take on. More than anything, I just feel grateful that I’m getting the opportunity to do what I love and express myself through different kinds of stories across different platforms.

Looking back from Pataakha (2018) to Sarfira (2024) and now Subedaar which of these lives was the hardest to step out of once the cameras stopped rolling?

Radhikka Madan: I think it would have to be Sanaa which is yet to be released. The film travelled to several festivals and even won a few international awards, but emotionally it was the most difficult character for me to step out of. That role stayed with me for a very long time. Through that experience, I actually discovered a lot about myself as a person. I realised that, as an actor, I didn’t really have clear emotional boundaries with my characters. I tend to absorb their emotions very deeply, and sometimes that can start affecting you personally.

In fact, I had to take therapy to understand why I was getting so impacted by my characters. That process helped me realise that while empathy is important for an actor, it’s equally important to create boundaries, to remind yourself that Radhikka’s life is not the character’s life. Sanaa taught me that lesson. It’s a film that’s extremely close to my heart, and it’s one I’m really looking forward to audiences watching when it finally releases.

Is there a genre—perhaps a full-blown comedy or a period piece—that you feel you haven’t "cracked" yet?

Radhikka Madan: As an actor, I genuinely believe I can explore anything and everything. One space I would really love to dive into is a full-blown mass comedy. I’d love to do something completely filmy, lip-syncing to songs, dancing in chiffon sarees in the mountains, all of it. I feel there’s a very masala side to me that people haven’t really tapped into yet. Very few people know that I’m actually quite filmy at heart. I grew up watching and loving that style of cinema; I always joke that I have a bit of Govinda in my blood. So that’s definitely a side of me I would love audiences to see someday.

Subedaar FAQs:

Q: What is the release date of Subedaar on Prime Video?

A: Subedaar premiered globally on Prime Video on March 5, 2026. Directed by Suresh Triveni, the film features Anil Kapoor in a high-octane action role alongside Radhikka Madan.

Q: Who plays the daughter in the movie Subedaar?

A: Radhikka Madan plays the role of Shyama, the fierce and emotionally layered daughter of Arjun Maurya (played by Anil Kapoor). Her performance has been highlighted for its "simmering intensity" and fractured bond with her father.

Q: Did Radhikka Madan learn Kabaddi for Subedaar?

A: Yes, Radhikka Madan trained for four months in Kabaddi to prepare for the role of Shyama. Despite injuring her back during the "extremely demanding" training, the Kabaddi sequences were ultimately cut from the final version of the film.

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