Radhika Apte Reflects On Her Pregnancy Journey: 'I Struggled to Embrace How I Looked'

Radhika Apte, who typically keeps her personal life private, surprised many when she appeared at the BFI London Film Festival red carpet, showing off her baby bump in a black gown.

Radhika Apte, who typically keeps her personal life private, surprised many when she appeared at the BFI London Film Festival red carpet, showing off her baby bump in a black gown. As she had not publicly announced her pregnancy, her photos from the event quickly spread across the internet. Now, the actress has shared a series of images from her pregnancy journey.

Radhika Apte on her pregnancy

In an interview with Vogue, Radhika opened up about her unexpected pregnancy and admitted that she didn’t enjoy the process, describing it as a tough journey. She recalled, “I started telling people the very next day. It’s such a stupid story, really. I don’t want to make it public, but let’s just say it’s funny how it happened—it wasn’t an accident, but we also weren’t trying. And it still came as a shock.”

Like many new mothers, Radhika had her insecurities and struggled with her changing body. “I did this photo shoot a week before giving birth. Truth is, I struggled to embrace how I looked at the time. I had never seen myself put on so much weight. My body was swollen, I had shooting pains in my pelvis, and the lack of sleep had skewed my perspective on everything. Now, not even two weeks into motherhood, my body looks different again.”

 

However, she has since come to accept the changes in her body. “There are new challenges, new discoveries, and a different perspective has set in. I look at these photos with much kinder eyes and feel bad for being so hard on myself. Now, I can see only beauty in these changes, and I know I will cherish these photos forever.”

Why Radhika's pregnancy was a surprise

Radhika further explained why her pregnancy came as a surprise. “I think it’s easier when people know whether they want a child or not. In our case, neither of us wanted kids, but there was this one per cent curiosity about what it would be like. Then, when this happened, we wondered whether to even go ahead.”

Reflecting on the difficult aspects of pregnancy, Radhika said, “Most women I know have had tough pregnancies, and honestly, it’s like menopause or your period—those hormones are no joke. But while we openly talk about how awful periods and menopause are, pregnancy gets this whole glow treatment. Sure, giving birth is amazing, but no one talks about the tough parts, and I find that absurd.”

Radhika plans to remain in London until February before returning to India to resume her work. In a previous interview with Times of India, she shared her thoughts on how pregnancy is often romanticised, stating, “Pregnancy is very hard, and bodies constantly go through very big changes.”

 

Describing her experience as challenging, Radhika admitted that preparing herself physically and psychologically was extremely difficult.

Regarding her first trimester, Radhika revealed she struggled with bloating, constipation, and nausea while shooting in 40-degree heat for three months. “I was having a meltdown all the time.” She also shared her frustration with people who advised her to stay happy because she was expecting. “I am telling you that I am suffering, and you are telling me to be happy.”

Radhika recently posted a photo of her newborn on Instagram, though she has not yet revealed the child’s gender.