Richa Chadha: “Sometimes you have to do a film because you are part of the prequel”
Actress Richa Chadha has earned the reputation of doing unconventional work in her 14 year-long career. However, she admits that despite making “the so-called” offbeat choices, not all projects have done well.
“It is different when I get involved with something right from its inception, Masaan (2015), for instance. There are times when I choose projects that come to me. I am not foolish to say that everything that I have chosen has worked out. I have also been naïve in thinking that if I work with a particular director because I feel his intent is good, the film will be good. All that has happened… it is nobody’s fault but things don’t work out sometimes,” says the actor.
Chadha explains, from wanting to work with people involved, or liking a script to signing work due to free time – there are different factors that drive her choice of taking on a project.
“With films like Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! (2008), Gangs of Wasseypur (2012), or [my latest film] Madam Chief Minister (2021), it was different,” she says, adding, “I really felt that the story needed to be told especially by somebosy like me who thinks of herself to be an ally. I hardly charged any money for the film, it was more like a token amount. Sometimes you choose a film because your agency is telling you that aapke paas date khali hain.”
She adds, “Sometimes you have to do a film because you are part of the prequel. I am in the Fukrey series and no matter what other work I do, that character is iconic and I still have to reprise it.”
That being said, the 35-year-old feels that every one of the decisions whether right or wrong has driven her to this place she is today and she regrets absolutely nothing.
“Some of your initial choices justify and dominate the whole spectrum when you are making your later choices. I want to remove the idea that everything that an actor does is very well thought out which involves a lot of strategies. It is not always the case. The motivation for doing the films is very different,” she ends.
