Richa Chadha turned to the digital space when the new medium was still finding its feet in India. She says she was even warned about it, told it was a step back. “At that time I was told that it would be your demotion, because who goes to the web after doing films. And now see how things turn out,” said Richa. Actor with Amazon Prime Video’s Inside Edge (2017) Was among the first Bollywood stars to switch to OTT, which is now gearing up for this season soon.
After four years down the line, Richa is a regular medium with diverse projects and characters. “What’s interesting in a web show is that the character grows with you. Like in Inside Edge there were some people who said they want all the characters to have more breathing space. So for the character to develop It is possible to devote more time, which I really enjoy,” added Richa indianexpress.com.
Richa’s latest release, a web show titled candy She is playing the role of a crap cop on Voot Select. She called her character Ratna Sankhwar ‘a layered woman’. “She has a past, she’s suspended. She’s the single mom of a special kid. She’s not trying to flap any wings. She just wants to be alive. I try to look at it in terms of real people.” who work in the forces and how difficult their life is,” the actor talked about playing the role.
The spectrum from super glamorous in Cabaret and Shakeela to absolutely de-glam in Masaan, Sarabjit and Love Sonia Richa ChadhaHis roles are notable. But the actress says it hasn’t been easy due to the different reactions from all sections of the audience.
“I have also got negative reviews for Masaan and then I have got positive reviews for films where I do not expect anything to be written about my character. Sometimes the reviews are so good that you might start thinking you’re Meryl Streep, and sometimes they’re so bad that you want to quit acting all together. So I don’t really care about the responses. And I am not saying this from an arrogant place. I really think it becomes very difficult if you give up.”
Further, Richa added, “A lot of critics don’t have training in film appreciation, they are not writers who know about cinema. Sometimes they make personal attacks and write mean things which are not constructive. I would love to read a negative review where someone says that I need to work on my voice or body language. But this rarely happens. Mostly, they try to get a thread online by dismissing an actor. Sometimes they announce you’re ‘finished’, and next they’ll write about how nepotism is killing the industry and real talent.”
Richa Chadha plays the role of Zarina Malika, an actress and the owner of a T20 cricket franchise, Mumbai Mavericks.
Does this mean that her new production house Pushing Button Studios, which she co-founded with beau Ali Fazal, will make sure she supports the stories and characters she believes in, given that when She’s just an actress on a project, so she has restrictions? She shared that the banner would help her control various aspects of the production, including supporting budget films.
“I want to have more creative control. Sometimes the script has a lot of potential but then people can point out flaws. There are so many things that go into making a film, a success, that has nothing to do with filmmaking. Has nothing to do with how it’s delivered, the release window, the anticipation around what OTT buys, and sometimes you don’t get the fee you deserve for a project, but if you’re an executive producer credit or production credit, you get a share of the profit.”
Looking at the characters she has played on screen till now, Richa refused to pick one, which she would probably like to do again when she gets a chance. According to him it is “a constant battle in the mind of an actor” where he would not want to see the work done by him. “We may have shot a film in December, and by March we feel like a new person because of spiritual or intellectual growth. Whatever changes have happened in your life, will affect your work and you will be able to make your own choices. How do you approach the characters. For that reason, it’s a pointless exercise because there’s no end to it. So often actors prefer theater. Every show is a new opportunity there.”
Richa Chadha and Varun Sharma in a scene from Fukrey Returns (2017).
Richa confessed that she hates when people ask her to draw parallels with the characters she plays. “When someone asks me if I prefer, say, Zarina or Bholi Punjaban, I find it a ridiculous question. Zarina is a complex and insecure person, and very ambitious. Also, I am not a gangster like Bholi Punjaban But it’s just a testament to the credibility of your work.”
What about seeing Zarina again in Inside Edge 3, which is slated to release in the coming months? “I am grateful to the creators who wrote the part for me. Things have developed in a very interesting way,” she indicated.
Richa is also preparing for this fukrey 3Where she will return as Bholi Punjaban. “The cast of Fukrey has always been fun. In fact it is one of the few crews where I have just made friends,” said Richa, how she wants to have an interesting collaboration with Ali Fazal, as she does not have many scenes in Fukrey. “Most of my work is with Choocha (Varun Sharma). So I don’t see it as a film where I got a chance to work with Ali. I think we should do something really cool and interesting together on our own. He is a phenomenal actor. It is blooming in itself now. I love seeing him.”
Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal were planning to get married in 2020 (Photo: Express Archives)
Richa and Ali had to cancel their wedding plans last year due to the COVID-19 lockdown. She revealed that the two are yet to plan anything, even considering the fact that their families do not live in Mumbai.
“Unfortunately both of us are not from Mumbai and we have not had this discussion at home as well. Also there are date issues right now so we don’t know when to do this. I definitely want to have a fun celebration but every time we try to plan something, the lockdown is announced or something happens, that disturbs,” Richa said.
Richa started her film career with the 2008 film Oye Lucky Lucky Oye. For over a decade, she has also been a part of hits like Gangs of Wasseypur, Section 375 and Panga. However, the actor refused to be called “an integral part of Bollywood”. “I really don’t even have that aspiration anymore,” she said.
He talked about the change he has seen in the film industry all these years. “I am very happy to see the kind of content being created. That’s where we wanted to start and support when we were starting out. Now it is being created, liked and accepted. Also, many people have stopped saying “Iska kuch nahi hoga (she will not get anything good).” No one can predict what will happen today. That’s the key change I’m seeing today,” she concluded.
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