Actor Radhika Apte is currently making headlines for her recent Netflix release Akka alongside co-star Keerthy Suresh. Both the women are mothers and are balancing work and motherhood. But between the first smiles, burps, cuddles are countless sleepless nights, dirty diapers and laundry and unfinished chores. With all this comes mental exhaustion and moments when even the simplest tasks can feel overwhelming.How motherhood has changed her life
5 Oct 2026 | 12:06
Parents, when your child refuses to greet relatives, do you make them say hello or respect their choice?
“I used to multitask better before I became a mother. I am so brain-fogged, and it’s also because of sleep deprivation,” says Apte.The 41-year-old recently offered a candid glimpse into this less-discussed side of parenting. In a recent conversation with Hauterrfly, she spoke about how motherhood has changed her everyday life. She was responding to a discussion about whether women are naturally better at multitasking than men.She went on to explain that her ability to multitask has changed considerably. Earlier, she could comfortably handle two things at once.Now everything seems like a huge task. “If I try to send someone a message and you ask me a question at the same time, I can no longer do both. I will tell you, ‘Give me a second. Let me send this message, and then I can focus on your question,'” she said.No house help, three meals a day and a little girl to look after“We manage everything, yaar,” said Radhika. She said she manages everything along with her acting career. During the conversation, Keerthy recalled that Radhika had previously mentioned not having domestic help and wondered how she managed everything.Calling herself a good cook, Radhika said that she prepared all three meals herself. She explained that being a working mother meant she often opted for continental dishes and meals that were easier to prepare.She mentioned that her mornings begin with porridge or muesli, while her daughter gets pancakes, French toast or Marmite toast.Radhika’s motherhood journey
Radhikha Apte, Shot from a series (@radhikaofficial)
Radhika welcomed her daughter with her husband, British musician and violinist Benedict Taylor, in December 2024. The couple have largely kept their child’s life away from the public eye.This is not the first time Radhika has spoken about the emotional complexity of becoming a mother.On postpartum depressionIn a conversation with ANI in May 2025, the actor revealed that she had prepared herself for the possibility of postpartum depression. She had spoken to friends and family and made sure they knew she might need their support. To her surprise, she felt extremely happy after her daughter was born and did not experience severe depression.But she admitted to having difficult days. She explained that looking after a child around the clock was challenging and that there were days when she felt terribly low and lost.Her words challenged the popular idea that a mother must feel happy and fulfilled every moment after childbirth.In September 2026, while speaking to The Quint, Radhika discussed the guilt and complicated emotions she experienced around motherhood. She recalled feeling that she was not allowed to openly express her feelings or admit that she had reservations about having a child at that particular point in her life.But she also explained that expressing such doubts did not mean she loved her daughter any less. It was about allowing herself to acknowledge feelings that society often expects mothers to suppress.