'Scariest part was Kabaddi': Radhikka Madan on the 'demanding' preparation behind her role in Anil Kapoor starrer ‘Subedaar’

In her latest cinematic outing, Radhikka Madan delivers a powerhouse performance as Shyama in the gritty drama Subedaar, which premiered on Prime Video on March 5, 2026. Set amid the dangerous world of corruption and the sand mafia, ‘Subedaar’ revolves around a retired army officer played by Kapoor, who struggles to adjust to life after service. At its heart, however, the narrative explores the strained relationship between a father who spent most of his life away from home and a daughter forced to grow up without him. Many viewers and critics have pointed out that the emotional tension between the two characters forms the core of the story.

For the role Madan shed her indie roots to navigate the dangerous world of the sand mafia and complex family dynamics. From intense Kabaddi training that resulted in a back injury to mastering a nuanced UP dialect, Radhikka Madan’s dedication highlights why the father-daughter chemistry remains the beating heart of this high-octane action thriller. Following the film’s release, conversations around Madan’s performance have been gaining momentum. In a recent conversation with OTTplay, Madan spoke about the demanding preparation for the film, her on-screen dynamic with Kapoor, and the emotional toll that intense roles can sometimes take.

Radhikka Madan's scariest challenge in ‘Subedaar’

When asked about her approach to choosing roles that challenge her, Madan admitted that the toughest element of ‘Subedaar’ initially had little to do with acting. Radhikka Madan said, “Honestly, the scariest part for me when I signed the film was Kabaddi. It’s actually not in the final cut anymore, but I trained for almost four months for it. It was extremely demanding physically; I even injured my back during training.”

Madan also shared that mastering the regional dialect used by her character, Shyama, required extensive effort.

“Apart from that, the dialect was another big challenge. Shyama speaks in a UP dialect, and getting the nuances of that right required a lot of work. But what really drew me to the role was the emotional space between the father and daughter. There’s this quiet resentment and deep wound they both carry after losing the mother and learning to survive without her. Exploring that fragile emotional terrain was something that both scared me and excited me at the same time,” she explained.

Finding the emotional rhythm of Shyama

Despite the film featuring action-packed sequences and a rugged backdrop, Madan believes the emotional core of ‘Subedaar’ remains central to the storytelling. Talking about balancing the emotional and physical aspects of the role, she said, “For me, the internal and external worlds of a character are deeply connected. If you understand the emotional core of the character well enough, the external aspects, the body language, the energy, and even the way you move begin to follow naturally.”

Madan added that extensive preparation helped her step into Shyama’s mindset before filming began.

“With Shyama, we spent a lot of time during prep really understanding her internal world, what she carries, what she suppresses, and how she sees her father. Once that was clear, when I stepped on set, I didn’t have to consciously balance anything. You simply become the character. The physical and emotional aspects start flowing together,” Madan said.

The actor further emphasised that preparation plays a crucial role in allowing performers to immerse themselves completely once filming begins. “But that only happens when you’ve done the groundwork: lots of discussions with the director and deep preparation beforehand. I enjoy that process because it allows you to let go completely once the camera rolls,” she added.

'Subedaar' premiered globally on Prime Video on March 5, 2026. Directed by Suresh Triveni, the film features Anil Kapoor in a high-octane action role alongside Radhikka Madan.