In the newly released episode of Farah Khan’s cooking show, she and her chef, Dilip, visited the stunning home of actor Radhika Madan. The beautifully designed, spacious residence immediately caught viewers’ attention, and even left Farah Khan in awe. As she stepped into the house, Farah jokingly asked Radhika how she could afford such a luxurious place. “Radhika, I have never seen such a big house in Mumbai. How much money are you making? Look at this place, it’s stunning!” she exclaimed.
Radhika responded that building the house took nearly four years. Coming from Delhi, she said she always dreamed of a big, airy space. “I moved in four years ago, and back then, nothing was ready,” she shared. “That year, I shot seven films, the earnings from those projects helped me repay the loan. At the same time, I was working on the interior decor bit by bit. Whatever I earned, I put into the house.”
Her candid revelation reflects a reality many Bollywood actors emphasise, that owning a home in Mumbai is no easy feat. Radhika’s story of juggling multiple projects to fund her dream home is a testament to the unending hustle behind the glitz and glamour. She emerged from the television industry, where she said she would often work ’56 hours non-stop or 48 hours non-stop.’
Her comments come at a time when conversations around workload and labour conditions in the film industry are gaining momentum. Just recently, Deepika Padukone reportedly exited Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit over scheduling issues, after her request for an eight-hour workday wasn’t accommodated. Several celebrities, including Saif Ali Khan, Ajay Devgn, Kajol, Neha Dhupia, Vikrant Massey, Pankaj Tripathi, and Mani Ratnam, have spoken in support of Deepika’s demand for regulated work shifts.
Recently, television actor Shweta Tiwari also spoke about working non-stop for several hours at a stretch. She said on Bharti Singh’s podcast, “Our industry was known for the fact that no one ever used to sleep or take rest. I used to shoot for 72 hours straight, without a break. After working a 30-day schedule, I used to get payment for 45 days, and that is because my first shift used to be from 7 in the morning to 7 in the evening, and the second shift was from 7 in the evening to 2 am in the morning.”
