Latest news with #Parched
News18
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
How Radhika Apte Has Normalised Nudity On Screen, Done Bold Scenes From Parched To Sister Midnight
Last Updated: Radhika Apte does not shout from rooftops about going 'bold' in films. She does it with nonchalance, like she has for multiple roles, including the recent one in Sister Midnight. Radhika Apte Bold Roles: Over the last decade, Radhika Apte has carved out a space in Indian and international cinema that defies conventional norms. While many actresses shy away from roles involving nudity or vulnerability — often for fear of being typecast — Radhika has chosen to lean into characters that require a certain physical and emotional nakedness. It's not for provocation, and rarely for glamour. Instead, it seems like a choice rooted in the script and character. What separates her from others who have played 'bold" roles is the absence of performance for attention. She doesn't market herself as fearless, but simply does the work — and lets the work speak for itself. Directors, from Anurag Kashyap to Leena Yadav, have often trusted her with characters that navigate complex emotional terrains — where nudity, as and when it appears, is part of the narrative arc, not a shortcut to headlines. Recently, CBFC ordered to remove a nudity scene from Karan Kandhari's 'Sister Midnight', Radhika Apte's most-recent release, which has now hit OTT platform Tubi, with an 'A' certificate. Here's a list of boldest scenes in Radhika Apte's film career: That Day After Everyday (2013) In Anurag Kashyap's short film, Radhika plays one of three women confronting street harassment. Though there is no explicit nudity, the subtle physicality — bruises on face and a visibly guarded posture — convey a body that has been hurt and transforming. The film brought her physical expression into the foreground, turning it into a tool of empowerment rather than reducing it to just sexuality. Radhika had once opened up on how she connected immediately with the film's message. 'As Indian women we get eve‑teased a lot… it was really easy to connect," she had said. Badlapur (2015) In the film Radhika Apte played Koko, whose cameo included a disturbing scene where she's coerced into undressing by Varun Dhawan's character. The moment was uncomfortable and served the film's dark tone rather than aiming for titillation. Radhika was lauded for delivering it with restraint, letting discomfort and tension take the lead than just nudity. True to form, she never sensationalised it — treating the scene as part of the narrative, not a publicity hook. Parched (2016) Leena Yadav's Parched marked a major turning point in Radhika Apte's career. Radhika's portrayal of Lajjo included a leaked nude scene that made waves online and dominated headlines. In a chat with The News Minute, she said, 'A female body is not just sexual. But this is a trap men are prone to too, not just women. that was a step towards feeling more liberated about my body. You watch a certain thing, you read a certain way, you aspire to be that person who doesn't have inhibitions. But actually taking that step to be that, to practice what you believe in. Taking that step made me feel happy." Madly (2016) In Anurag Kashyap's 'Clean Shaven" segment from the anthology 'Madly", Radhika Apte plays Archana, a woman navigating marital trauma. Her character forms a connection with her neighbour Allwyn (Adarsh Gourav), culminating in a scene of brief frontal nudity — driven solely by vulnerability, not provocation. When stills from the tastefully shot short leaked online, Radhika called the scene 'extremely liberating," saying it helped her shed deep-rooted body insecurities. Her performance earned her the Best Actress award at Tribeca Film Festival. Opening up on the scene, Anurag Kashyap told The Times Of India in an interview, 'It took us so much time to do it in a non-sexual way, as it is meant to be absolutely non-sexual and we took all the care we could. It was not easy to find an actor who is brave enough to participate in it. And then, all of a sudden after a month from nowhere, this video popped up online." The Wedding Guest (2018) In this film, Radhika Apte starred opposite Dev Patel, playing Samira, a young bride-to-be caught in a cross-border kidnapping plot. While the film is filled with suspense, the moment that truly lingered with the audience was the intimate love scene between Samira and Jay (Dev Patel). The scene was leaked online but grabbed eyeballs not for eroticism, but for how emotionally raw it felt . The scene earned critical praise for both its restraint and realism. When the leaked stills became the talking point, Radhika said, as reported in Republic, 'The film… has many other beautiful sequences and the fact that one particular sex scene got leaked because of the psychotic mentality of society." Sister Midnight (2024) On the personal front, Radhika Apte and her husband, Benedict Taylor, welcomed their first child in December 2024. First Published:
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Sister Midnight: Where to watch Radhika Apte's bold feminist drama online
Sister Midnight OTT release: Sister Midnight, which had a limited theatrical release in India on May 30, has proved to be a game-changer for Radhika Apte. The film features a bold theme and gives her the opportunity to showcase her abilities to the fullest. In India, Sister Midnight is available to watch on Tubi. In the UK, it is available to stream on services such as Apple TV and Google Play. What's the story about? Sister Midnight is a dark comedy drama that centres on a newly-married woman who arrives in Mumbai with her husband and soon finds herself stuck in a dull marriage. Her husband neglects her and never gets intimate with her. She develops a bond with an 'aunty' who lives next door, but that too adds to her worries. Meet the cast and crew Sister Midnight features Radhika Apte as Uma, a married woman. The actress is a known name in the film industry. Some of her biggest releases include Kabali, Parched, and Badlapur. She also essayed key roles in Sacred Games and Ghoul. She is joined by Ashok Pathak, who plays her husband, Gopal. The 40-year-old is best known for his work on Panchayat. The cast of Sister Midnight also includes Dev Raaz, Chhaya Kadam and Smita Tambe. Sister Midnight is directed by Karan Kandhari, Paul Banks serves as the music director.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Parched Hospitality Group Puts the Guest Experience First with New Paytronix Rewards App
Parched Hospitality -- Isla & Co. Loyalty with an Australian Vibe — Parched launches a tiered rewards program to engage and reward guests digitally, across its unique dining & cocktail brands NEWTON, Mass. and NEW YORK, May 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Paytronix, the leader in guest engagement for restaurants and convenience stores, and Australian culture inspired Parched Hospitality Group have launched 'Parched Locals,' a powerful new rewards program and mobile app to engage with guests across all four of its iconic restaurant brands: Daintree; Hole in the Wall; Isla & Co.; and Wallflower. Guests can sign up for membership to become a Local with any store in the Parched family to get rewards and bonus perks across all the brands. Parched operates nine unique restaurants in New York and Florida, featuring multiple concepts that take inspiration from Australia where much of the executive team was born. Stop by Hole in the Wall or Isla and Co. for an Australian street corner vibe to enjoy a cup of specialty coffee and hearty breakfast, or dinner and date night out. Swing by Wallflower for cocktails and a bite, where vinyl records are found spinning throughout the night. Or experience the Australian forest environment at Daintree to enjoy the lush greenery and rooftop view, under the watchful eye of the New York skyline. 'We've got such a fantastic group of loyal customers, we wanted to give back to them and make sure they feel as much a part of our family as we feel about them,' said Tom Rowse, Chief Strategy Officer, Parched, 'The Parched Locals program and mobile app will help expand and grow our family while thanking them. Paytronix brings so many ways to surprise and reward guests, engaging with them through a program that's true to each brand's unique needs and style.' Become a Mate TodayBy downloading the Parched mobile app new mates will automatically get a free cocktail, coffee or fries just for signing up! The mobile app is designed to be a one-stop shop to explore all the Parched venues. There, guests can reserve a table, explore the menu, manage their account and earn/redeem rewards. When on the go, they can order online – with app exclusive pricing just for members! Earn and redeem rewards at any restaurant in the Parched family. Sign up online, or at any local Parched location during checkout. Members earn points for every purchase they make and also gain first access to special offers and limited-time rewards. Frequent guests can move up tiers in the program to unlock additional perks and extra rewards. 'Parched designed their digital brand intentionally to ensure guests feel at home and experience Australian hospitality however they engage, across the Parched brands', said Andrea Mulligan, Chief Customer Officer, Paytronix. 'The guest experience has been at the center of the brand since its conceptualization. Parched is giving back to its regular customers and making it convenient for people to engage with them whether in person or remotely.' Parched deployed the full Paytronix guest engagement platform, which also provides powerful tools for online ordering, rewards, email/messaging/SMS and marketing, and gift card solutions. Rollout was easy, with Paytronix integrating directly with the Toast POS system used by Parched. Paytronix even supported specialized integration needs, like direct integration of Sunday QR code payments. About Parched Hospitality GroupParched Hospitality Group (PHG) began in 2014 with the opening of a boutique New York City coffee shop, Hole in the Wall. This humble establishment quickly became an iconic café brand, laying the foundation for PHG's expansion into a multi-concept hospitality group. Drawing inspiration from Australian, Southeast Asian, and European cultures, PHG delivers exceptional customer experiences and innovative concepts--a third place for guests in each local community it operates in. Today, PHG's portfolio includes renowned establishments such as Hole in the Wall, Isla & Co., Daintree, and Wallflower, each venue offering unique dining experiences, from modern Australian cuisine to innovative cocktails. Parched operates nine restaurants across New York and Florida as well as a direct-to-consumer coffee brand, all connected by a shared mission that puts community, customer experience, and creativity at the heart of everything they do. Learn more at About Paytronix Paytronix, an Access Group company, is a cloud-based digital guest engagement platform for the hospitality industry. Our innovative, unified platform provides loyalty programs, online ordering, gift cards, branded mobile applications, and strategic insights to more than 1,800 leading restaurant and convenience store brands. Our valued clients leverage the power of Paytronix across 50,000 sites globally to create seamless, personalized, and brand-authentic experiences that foster lasting relationships with their customers. For more than 20 years, Paytronix has been a trusted partner helping brands maximize the lifetime value of their guests and grow more profitable businesses. For more information, visit Media Contact:Calen McGee Paytronix Systems, A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
News18
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Gehana Vasisth On House Arrest Ban, Asks Why Priyanka-Ranveer's Nude Scenes Went Unpunished
She continued, 'They are also the citizens of our respected country and are equally responsible for what they are showing to the public. They have fans in millions and the youth looks up to them. So kindly consider my request." Gehana also pointed out what she sees as a double standard, questioning why no action has been taken against public figures who have done similar bold scenes. 'When Priyanka Chopra does nude scenes in Hollywood films, or Radhika Apte does a topless scene in Sacred Games and Parched, or Mandakini did some bold scenes a long time ago (Ram Teri Ganga Maili), why were they not accused of spreading obscenity in society?" she asked. The actress, who was caught in the middle of a firestorm after a controversial clip from House Arrest went viral, also advocated for stronger censorship in the digital space. Gehana talked about the need for filmmakers to follow guidelines to avoid crossing boundaries. The National Commission for Women (NCW) has already issued summons to Ajaz Khan and Vibhu Agarwal, CEO of Ullu App, in response to the controversy. As of now, Ullu has not commented on the matter. Mumbai Police had earlier registered an FIR against Ajaz Khan, producer Rajkumar Pandey, and others over alleged obscene content in the reality show House Arrest. The complaint was filed by Bajrang Dal activist Gautam Ravriya. The show sparked controversy after a scene showed host Ajaz Khan asking contestants to simulate sex positions on camera. The reality show, which follows a captivity-based format, streams on Ullu and features Khan as the host. Ajaz Khan quizzed a female contestant on sexual experiments. When she hesitated and admitted she wasn't familiar with sex positions, Ajaz called upon two other contestants to demonstrate a few on camera to help her 'understand." The entire segment was laced with suggestive dialogue and innuendos. In another clip from the same episode that has since gone viral on Twitter (now X), a group of female contestants were seen participating in a challenge where they were asked to remove their undergarments from beneath their clothes while the cameras were rolling.
India.com
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Gehana Vasisth Slams OTT Ban On House Arrest: We Showed Lingerie, Not Nudity Like Priyanka Or Ranveer
Mumbai: Actress Gehana Vasisth, who is a contestant on the reality show "House Arrest" hosted by Ajaz Khan has urged the government to file a case against Priyanka Chopra, Ranveer Singh and Radhika Apte for exposing themselves on screen. Gehana has posted a video saying, "I request you all, especially Priyanka Chaturvedi mam, and Chitra Wagh mam to please make it equal for everyone. Just like you have filed a case against Ajaz (Khan), the Ullu app, and the producers of the show "House Arrest", similarly please file a case against Priyanka Chopda, Radhika Apte, and Ranveer Singh." "They are also the citizens of our respected country and are equally responsible for what they are showing to the public. They have fans in millions and the youth looks up to them. So kindly consider my request," she added. Pointing out the hypocrisy, Gehana questioned why no action is taken against those who watch porn websites. She further said that when Priyanka Chopra does nude scenes in Hollywood films, or Radhika Apte does a topless scene in "Sacred Games" and "Parched", or Mandakini did some bold scenes a long time ago,(Ram Teri Ganga Maili) why they were not accused of spreading obscenity in society?' Gehana further requested to bring in censorship in the digital space, so that makers are obliged to follow the rules. A massive controversy erupted after a clip went viral from "House Arrest" on social media where host Ajaz Khan was seen asking the contestants to enact sex positions on camera. Gehana also said that during the task, the maximum exposure was of a bikini. She added that every contestant was also wearing extra clothes. In response to the video, the National Commission for Women (NCW) has issued summons to Ajaz Khan and Vibhu Agarwal, CEO of Ullu App. The Ullu app has yet to comment on the controversy.
