Radikaa Sarathkumar: I realised I’m too outright and frank to be in politics

There’re very few names in Indian cinema who can boast of the versatility and authority of Radikaa Sarathkumar on screen. From comedy to villainy to heavy duty drama and playing the coy heroine, she has done it all with aplomb across languages over four decades. She recently made an appearance on Sony LIV’s talk show Nijam with Smita alongside producers Swapna Dutt, Supriya Yarlagadda.

She discussed several aspects from her childhood, film career and political stint in the episode. “Growing up with a single parent wasn’t a choice. My dad was prisoned after he shot MGR and we were put up in a hostel in Sri Lanka to distance us from public light. Our house was just a street away but we still had to stay in the hostel. Childhood was a different and a confusing experience at once.”

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“Over the years, I’ve realised life is a journey and you don’t need to take things too seriously. I never thought I would be entering films; I’ll call myself an accidental passenger in this journey of cinema. When I did my first Telugu film Nyayam Kavali, I didn’t know the language and picked it up soon and was disciplined,” Radikaa shared.

“Much like cinema, I was an accidental entrant in politics too and I did it out of respect for Kalaingnar and I’ve been very close to their family. However, politics lands you in tricky situations and you’re pitted against one another. I was in a catch 22 situation with Jayalalithaa. She remembers everything well. She really liked my husband but her tone changed when we she talked to me,” she added.

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“I realised I’m not cut out for politics. I’m too frank and forthright, won’t tolerate any nonsense.” Her last appearance in a Telugu film was for Naga Shaurya’s Krishna Vrinda Vihari while she was also part of RJ Balaji’s thriller Run Baby Run in 2023. She entered the industry with the 1978 release Kizhakke Pogum Rail, directed by Bharathiraja.