‘This was one of the first pieces of furniture I got made with my own money': Step inside Radhika Apte's Mumbai home

Indian Express

2 days ago

Radhika Apte may have carved a niche in Indian cinema with her bold, offbeat roles—but step into her Mumbai home, and you'll see a softer, deeply personal side to her.
'I don't come from a filmy background at all,' Radhika shares, setting the tone for a home far from Bollywood bling. 'My father's a neurosurgeon, my mother's an anesthetist. My mother always wanted to be an actor, so it's probably passed on to me. And I always wanted to be an actor.'
As she welcomes us into her eclectic space, she's making breakfast, casually warm and candid. 'I can't do without quite healthy [food],' she grins. But what's truly nourishing here isn't just her granola—it's her home, filled with memories, reclaimed furniture, and intentional design.
'I always look for houses with enough light,' she said on an old episode of Asian Paints Where The Heart Is, explaining how natural light is non-negotiable. 'This house has higher ceilings, which makes it look a little more breathing area and spacious.'
Her husband, British musician Benedict Taylor, helped nudge her toward Mumbai, and also helped spot this gem of a home. 'He has a great sense of which house to live in because he looks at the light… I'm better at turning it into that thing.'
That 'thing' is a space layered with meaning—plants because she grew up around trees, fan-painting ideas borrowed from an old teacher, and an old jhoola inherited from her grandmother.
'I hold memories, and I like and let go of things. This is something I never let go [of]… The smell of the wood reminds me of her, sometimes even the dust on it reminds me,' she says, gently touching an antique stool.
Then there's the chair. 'This was one of the first pieces of furniture I got made with my own money. Mostly because my mum loves it. She finds it extremely perfect to sit on—it's her spot.'
In her favourite corner, she's transformed a former balcony into a breezy tea nook. 'This is one of my favorite spots. I open this completely, and there's such great breeze—even in Bombay.'
Each room has its own personality—her bedroom is cozy and light-filled, with mirrored wardrobes that bounce sunlight around, while her guest room is casual and nap-ready. 'I like to fall asleep on a sofa,' she confesses.
But it's her bright yellow wall that really stands out. 'This wall is mango yellow. I'm going to fill it with all kinds of paintings—so one day, it'll be completely full.'
Radhika also gives us a peek into her 'transition' space—her glam room that bridges her personal life and actor persona. 'I get ready here, do my makeup, and then literally exit. It creates that distance between my private and professional space.'
When asked what home means to her, Radhika answers without a pause: 'A better home is a place we welcome people and make them feel comfortable. I think that's where my heart lies.'