Exclusive: Richa Chadha on the personal and professional high she's currently cherishing and more
Publish date: 2024-08-26
One first saw her in Dibakar Banerjee’s Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! (2008) and was taken in by her raw energy. Over the years, Richa has come across as someone who is set to dominate the camera. Whether it’s Gangs of Wasseypur, Masaan or the Fukrey franchise, she’s made an impact with every outing. She’s proud of her outsider status and believes that if one has talent, then one doesn’t need a godfather to survive in this industry. She married long-time beau Ali Fazal last year and the duo make for a made-for-each-other couple alright. She’s been known for her political activism and her forthright ways and wouldn’t change the way she lives for anything. Excerpts from an interview with the fiery actress. Excerpts...
How have you changed ever since you joined the industry?
I have calmed down. I don’t get very angry. I also take things in stride.
It’s been a long journey; you must have learnt a lot along the way.
I have witnessed many ups and downs during this journey, but I have enjoyed my struggles as well. My first film was Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! (2008), and it received appreciation in the film circles much before its release. I then thought that my life would change overnight. But around the same time, there were terrorist attacks in Mumbai. After that, for many days, people did not come to the theatres. Then I realised that our business is a gamble. I learnt very positively that I shouldn’t take anything too seriously. Kyunki yahan kuch bhi ho sakta hai (anything can happen here).
The industry has witnessed a sea change.
After COVID, many changes have happened. People were locked in their homes and OTT happened. The reach of social media has increased so much that people don’t need anything else other than their phones. Technology has improved. Earlier, there were art house actresses belonging to the ’80s and ’90s; have you seen them give interviews in glamorous clothes? Today, every person is doing something or another. I am doing a commercial film like Fukrey and an art type of film as well. I think things have changed like that.Has OTT strengthened the position of women in films?
I don’t think so. I can say one thing about OTT that because of it, actresses in their 40s and 50s are able to play lead roles. Also, the length of the roles has increased, but there is no diversity in them! Strong roles are only for police and lawyers. I still think that good roles need to be written for women. Writers need to work better on female characters.
In one of your posts on Instagram, you wrote that it’s not easy to reach people’s hearts and make your place in the industry on
your own...
If you see the entire cast of Fukrey, Manjot, Varun, Pulkit and me have been cast in the film after giving an audition. Nobody belongs to a film family. Still, the film has done good business. This is an achievement by itself. Secondly, there is also a message for those who talk about nepotism: if the film is good, then it will do well. Along with making a good film, it is also important to promote it and Excel puts its heart and soul into promotions.
How special is Fukrey 3 for you? Was it easy to get into Bholi’s character for the third time?
Since this character has gained recognition, it is exciting to explore more facets of this character. Director Mrigdeep Singh Lamba does a lot of rehearsals and reading. Until he isn’t convinced that you are ready, he doesn’t stop. All the characters in Fukrey have been loved by people, so it was a bit expected that the film would do well. The entire cast has become like a family. It’s nice to keep seeing each other and it’s nice to hang out during promotions after the shooting.
Fukrey must have also been special because that was the first time you met Ali.
Actually, Manjot and Varun would always talk about food and video games. Pulkit was busy with his fitness. At that time, it was only Ali who would talk with me. He mixed up well with them as well as with me. That’s how we became friends.
Ali’s doing good work in Hollywood…
I am very happy to have Ali in my life. I saw his work in an upcoming film yesterday. If Ali had belonged to a film family, log unko sar aankhon par baitha lete. He has worked on Furious 7, a film like Mirzapur, and Victoria and Abdul with Judi Dench. His character in Victoria reminds me of a young Shashi Kapoor. Along with that, he has made a variety of films, like Fukrey and Khufiya. But he isn’t being talked about. This pinches me.
You seem to be really in love with him…
Ali is a gentleman. He is very caring. Not just with his family but with my family as well. He is a complete family man. I don’t think if he didn’t have the talent, we would have fallen in love. I wanted someone intelligent, sophisticated and educated who was also an artiste.
How would you define love?
Companionship, comfort, chemistry and excitement to be with each other. We really look forward to the holidays. If we both have a holiday, we decided to watch a film. We enjoy watching films, travelling, eating and working out together. We are good friends. We have similar choices.Opposites attract, but similarities bind. Do you agree?
We have different personalities. Ali starts thinking really fast while I stay quiet. He reaches 30 minutes before time and I reach five minutes late. The similarities are that we both belong to middle-class families, are educated and share the same values. He is very hardworking as well.
One thing you admire and one thing that annoys you about Ali...
Ali is punctual, so if he has to reach somewhere, he gets stressed beforehand. Once he set everything in place 30 minutes before a Zoom call, I was laughing that a Zoom call would only start on time.
He is supposed to be a good cook…
He is fond of cooking. He makes vegetables, different types of rice and pasta. He made seviyan on Eid and it was the best seviyan that I ever had. I liked it very much.You are quite active on social media.
Till now, I haven’t understood the exact purpose of social media because, when it started, people were posting pictures of food. We are all part of this change. We are living on the Internet. Everything is a deal. And I think I am on the Internet to break this deal. Many times, you have to pass by the middleman. For me, social media is a means of voicing my thoughts. I look at it positively. I enjoy doing it.
Have you ever been best by self-doubt?
Every actor faces self-doubt. Everybody feels that they are underrated or haven’t been given their due. I have spoken to many actors and realised that everybody is in the same boat. Nobody is happy with themselves. So, just do your best and play the game, but on your own terms.
You are working with Sanjay Leela Bhansali once again in Heeramandi…
I absolutely love working with SLB sir because he enjoys his work a lot. His work is his obsession. If he does retakes, he will inform you why he is doing so. One gets to learn attention to detail from him. He creates what he wants aesthetically and masterfully, such as how the curtains will be, which lens will be in the frame, how the softness will be, how the makeup will be and what type of poetry it will be; he works on all these minute things. He is very particular. He has humanity.
Is he strict on the sets?
Yes, he is. We have become very lazy. I feel that the artiste needs a lot of information and they need to work on themselves. Sanjay Bhansali sir tests all of these things, including your sense of rhythm, your memory and your level of control over your body. Ye sab cheezen bahut maza deti hai kaam mein (all these things help you work better).At this phase of life, which new things do you desire to do?
Writing and dancing.
Do you forgive people easily?
I forgive easily, but I never forget. I never harm people, but I don’t allow them to gain from me.
What is the biggest challenge that you are facing right now?
My challenge is trying to do both producing and acting. I am very ambitious and I am convinced that I will be able to achieve it. More on: Richa Chadha
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