Richa Chadha

Richa Chadha: There's an unspoken hierarchy on a mainstream film's set

Apr 292018

An unspoken hierarchy on the sets of a mainstream film is not something actress Richa Chadha is fond of. Having worked in both mainstream cinema and projects with theatre artistes, Richa pointed at the basic difference between the two

Richa Chadha

“Working in mainstream is somewhat stressful, but not in exact sense. It’s a very different experience… There is an unspoken hierarchy in a mainstream film, that I am not fond of,” Richa Chadha told IANS here after she wrapped up the shoot of “Abhi Toh Party Shuru Hui”.

The film’s ensemble cast includes actors as talented as Pankaj Tripathi, Saurabh Shukla, Vinay Pathak, Divya Dutta, Manoj Pahwa and Pavan Malhotra. Richa says even if she is on the top of that hierarchy, it makes her uncomfortable.

“Even if I am at the top of a hierarchy, I don’t like it. Because it unknowingly distances yourself from other people working on the project. For example, there are five actors and all of them are equally commercially viable and have equal experience… Just because my manager says, ‘Richa ko kuch alag do, alag van mil jaye (Give Richa a separate vanity van)’, so when I will sit and eat food with them, I will feel weird,” she said.

During the shoot of “Abhi Toh Party Shuru Hui”, the experience was different. All the actors, who have a lot of experience, stayed together till its wrap up. And they also helped junior artistes in giving the best shot.

“Suppose we are doing a scene… Like, while shooting ‘Abhi Toh Party Shuru Hui’, we have had a few junior artistes in Lucknow. They are not trained actors, so they do not know mark, light, how to put the mic, and the basics. But we are sitting and helping, coming together… If there is a hierarchy, then it won’t be the same… They won’t be able to open up.

“The pressure on that artiste is in fact much more because he/she has to prove himself/herself in just those two days. So, why make that difference or bring it in the first place? If it is there, it really pinches the person on the other side.

“If you are doing a comedy, you have to be comfortable enough with each other to have that camaraderie. Jokes happen between friends, right?” added the “Daas Dev” actress.

“Abhi Toh Party Shuru Hui” is a political satire, Co-produced by Sony Pictures Networks Productions and Anubhav Sinha. Its release date is yet to be announced.

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Give us better roles

Celebrities

Mar 312018

Richa Chadha has established a permanent place in Bollywood through non-conventional roles from portraying a hot-headed don in Fukrey to a small-town girl fighting taboos around sex in Masaan

Richa Chadha

Richa Chadha says a true feminism wave will arrive in Bollywood when better roles will be written for women. “Actresses are speaking up, which is a good thing because actresses are speaking up more than actors. But I don’t know whether there is a feminism wave in Bollywood (or not),” Richa told IANS.

“It will truly be amazing if better parts are written for women and better films are made with women and those films make money at the box office. Then we can truly say that it has arrived,” she added.

Richa has established a permanent place in Bollywood through non-conventional roles from portraying a hot-headed don in “Fukrey” to a small-town girl fighting taboos around sex in “Masaan”.

In fact, Richa is proud of her role as Bholi Punjaban in the “Fukrey” franchise. The second part of the franchise “Fukrey Returns”, which will premiere on the Indian small screen on Sunday on Zee Cinema, was also a hit. “The role helped me connect to a wider commercial audience. It was a good decision to do it. It is not an easy or a stereotypical character to play. It was the character a lot of people may or may not do especially in Bollywood because it is very risky…Taking the role was a calculated risk. I am happy,” she said.

Richa is hoping for the third part of the “Fukrey” franchise. “Third movie will happen, but director only knows when and what will the story,” she said.

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Union Budget 2018: Kajol, Richa Chadha want Bollywood industry to be 'tax-free'

Celebrities

Jan 312018

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will present the 2018 union budget, where the Government is expected to try to woo rural voters and small businesses as the country heads to a season of elections

Kajol

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will present the 2018 union budget, where the Government is expected to try to woo rural voters and small businesses as the country heads to a season of elections. The entertainment industry too has some expectations from the budget, as they want the high taxes gone from the industry and want it to be ‘tax free’. Expressing her thoughts on the budget as an actor, actress Kajol said, ‘I ideally want the entertainment industry to be completely tax-free. But since that is not going to happen, I will leave this upto the government to do as they see best.’

Bollywood actress Richa Chadha also supports the ‘tax free’ comment and says that she is worried about the country’s economy going down. ‘As an actor, I want to say that as of now the entertainment tax is too high. People like me pay 33 percent tax and 15 percent GST, so I want something in return too. Amenities like Education, Electricity, Water and Health should be free. We can’t really be free till the time, we don’t give these basic amenities to everyone in that nation.’

She also said that such high taxes in the industry is killing cinema and it needs to be modified. Meanwhile, ace choreographer Terrence Lewis says that making entertainment industry ‘tax-free’ is not the right choice. ‘Entertainment industry is not a social service. We are doing for our own personal agenda. So, yes, taxes can be reduced but not fully diminished.’ This will be the last full-fledged budget of the Narendra Modi-led government and the first post the rollout of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

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Richa Chadha gives out a strong message on National Girl Child Day

Celebrities

Jan 242018

Richa Chadha has an interesting message to share giving her take on the ‘He for She’ campaign which is administered by the United Nations

Richa Chadha. Pic/Richa Chadha’s instagram

On National Girl Child Day, Richa Chadha took to social media this morning to spread a pivotal message on the girl child issue in India. Richa has always been looked upto as a figure who speaks her mind and especially when it comes to empowerment of women. And on this special day too, she has an interesting message to share giving her take on the #HeforShe campaign which is administered by the United Nations to make men be the agents of change for equal rights of women.

In the video that Richa shared on Instagram, Richa says, “I got a thought on this National Girl Child Day that while we talk about government initiatives like Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, I think we need to discuss things like everyday sexism too. Things like discussing gender pay disparity, or the hesitant attitude to report a sexual crime. And even the fact that the number of child rapes are increasing every day. Not a single day we wake up where there isn’t a disturbing news. Adding to that, I feel this HeForShe movement which is ongoing. I feel for the survival of the human race depends both on men and women. I feel it should be HeForUs instead. But here’s hoping we can all do it together because it is the need of the hour. (sic)”

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Richa Chadha dismisses rumours of faking a relationship with actor Ali Fazal

Celebrities

Dec 182017

bollywood actress Richa Chadha on speculations of affair with Fukrey co-star being a promotional gimmick says that she and Ali Fazal are not faking a relationship

Having put up a composed front when rumours of her relationship with Ali Fazal began to be termed a promotional gimmick, Richa Chadha now breaks her silence. “I feel sad for those who think Ali and I are faking our relationship,” she tells mid-day of her Fukrey co-star. Alluding to a storyline that appeared to pair her alongside Varun Sharma’s character, Choocha, she adds, “If I had to start a love rumour to promote the film, I would have done it with Choocha. Ali and I never wanted to talk about [our relationship] publicly because we knew this is how people would react. People should use their brains before passing comments. I hope they get the right message after reading this.”

Ali Fazal and Richa Chadha

It was almost a year ago that tongues started wagging about the duo’s affection for each other. Three months after Fazal spoke about their relationship, Chadha says they’ve been “in a happy space since a long time”. “Ali and I have known each other since we were doing theatre. Speculations were rife since then. People weren’t surprised when the media published it. In fact, the media was the last to know about it.”

Chadha’s arrival at the LA premiere of Fazal’s Brit film, Victoria & Abdul, in September, appeared to be the validation that the media was seeking about their affair. The actor says the comprehension was fitting, after all, “it was obvious that I would not go so far if we were only friends.” Usually tight-lipped about her personal life, she admits the revelation then was unavoidable. “But I feel it’s always good to avoid conversation about it (a romance) as it preserves the sanctity of the relationship.”

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Richa Chadha: Reach of radio unmatched

Celebrities

Dec 152017

Actress Richa Chadha says the reach of radio is unmatched in comparison to any other medium

Actress Richa Chadha says the reach of radio is unmatched in comparison to any other medium. The “Fukrey Returns” actress spoke in support of version 2.0 of Radio City’s ‘Rag Rag Mein Daude City’ initiative. She said in a statement: “Radio has the power to entertain masses across all classes of society and has a reach that is unmatched in comparison to any other medium.”

Richa Chadha

Lauding how the medium “helps bind together listeners from every nook and corner of the city”, Richa said the campaign — which delves on showcasing that radio is a theatre of the mind that transcends beyond being just a mere audio medium — about is a “reflection of the power of radio and portrays how it best relays the pulse of the city”.

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Richa Chadha turns cabbie for a day!

Celebrities

Dec 052017

In a unique film promotion for Fukrey Returns, Richa Chadha to give her fans a ride in Mumbai

With promotional activities believed to be a determining factor of a film’s success, it’s not surprising to see actors go the extra mile for their movies’ publicity. In a bid to promote Fukrey Returns that hits theatres this week, the makers are giving fans an opportunity to meet the comic caper’s lead actor, Richa Chadha aka Bholi Punjaban. What’s new, you ask? Instead of the mundane meet-and-greet session with fans, Chadha will turn cab driver for the day and give them a ride around the city.

Richa Chadha

A unit hand informs, “Going by the film’s theme, the contest allows a person to nominate a fukra friend who, if chosen, will get a cab ride with Richa. The winners will enjoy the ride in the coming week.” Always game for a curveball, Chadha says her fans can expect “an entertaining cabbie” in her. “It’s wonderful to meet fans though such interactive mediums. I am looking forward to driving them around the city and giving them a special experience. I will make for a funny and entertaining driver,” she laughs. Ask her if she would like to drive around any famous celebrity and she says with the eagerness of a fan girl, “I’d love to have Meryl Streep and Madhuri Dixit as passengers! They’re my idols.”

The actor also makes a strong case for public transport, saying that she enjoys using it whenever the opportunity arises. “I take a rickshaw whenever my car breaks down. It’s the most convenient mode of public transport.”

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Richa Chadha to give pep talk on appearance and how it shouldn't affect you

Celebrities

Nov 282017

Richa Chadha is set to feature on Ikyawann. The actor will be doing a cameo in the daily soap

Richa Chadha is set to feature on Ikyawann. The actor will be doing a cameo in the daily soap. She’ll be giving a pep talk to the show’s protagonist Susheel (played by Prachi Tehlan) about physical appearances and how it shouldn’t affect you. Richa has been vociferous about body shaming and eating disorders.

Richa Chadda
Richa Chadha

She has always extended support to social campaigns. The makers approached the actor and she readily agreed to be a part of the show to put the message across. Richa also featured as a judge on English reality show, Queens of Comedy.

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Richa Chadha draws inspiration from Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit?

Celebrities

Nov 252017

Comedy is a genre that comparatively fewer actresses in Bollywood have attempted and were able to master. It is a genre that has managed to break stereotypes

Comedy is a genre that comparatively fewer actresses in Bollywood have attempted and were able to master. It is a genre that has managed to break stereotypes. For instance, Amitabh Bachchan was known as the ‘Angry Young Man’ till he aced comedy in ‘Amar Akbar Anthony’. Richa Chadha is known for her serious portrayals in films such as ‘Masaan’ but arguably is best remembered for her performance in a quirky comic role as ‘Bholi Punjaban’ from Fukrey.

Richa Chadha

Even though Richa Chadha’s onscreen persona is often tough, she has great comic timing. She seeks inspiration in her work from two iconic actresses, Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit. Shekhar Kapoor recently said that his most memorable shooting experience was when Sridevi imitated Charlie Chaplin, in the film Mr.India. Their proven skills in comedy once ruled the Bollywood. Films like Chalbaaz, Mr. India, Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja, Jamai Raja, Khel amongst many other comedy hit films of the time.

In other words, it wouldn’t be wrong saying Richa draws inspiration from these senior actresses who have the capability to bring a smile to the audience face with her quirky comedy style onscreen. Richa’s next Fukrey Returns is soon to hit the theatres where she will reprise the character of Bholi Punjaban. In fact, the straightforward actress has a new-found love for comedy and made her TV debut with a comedy reality talent hunt, ‘The Queens of Comedy’ that aired last month on TLC.

Speaking of which Richa said, “I like performance that finds humour in otherwise dark situations. Fukrey is an out and out comedy, and I had a blast playing this OTT vamp. I feel actresses in the past brought to life more dimensions, even to mundane characters and scripts. Sridevi was at once sensual and hilarious in Mr. India. Madhuri Ma’am was empowered but and an excellent mimic. Now I feel, at best, without meaning to, people often look like poor parody’s of the work of past greats.”

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''Come, sleep with me' an old way of sexual harassment in Bollywood'

Celebrities

Oct 072017

Gender stereotype is an old-age tradition running in the blood of the Hindi film industry. There are many powerful films released recently, which are trying to eradicate this gender inequality. Slowly, but steadily maybe we’ll see the change, wherein the heroine’s role is not limited only to be the hero’s side stock or objectified as sexual subjects.

Discussing a few ideas on how can one change this and the harassment the heroines have to undergo at workplaces, the “honest” as she likes herself to be called over “outspoken”, talented Richa Chadha and Kalki Koechlin poured their hearts out over a candid luncheon with mid-day, while promoting their upcoming light-hearted, coming-of-age film’Jiah Aur Jiah’, which hits the 70 mm on October 27.

Richa Chadha

They both are known for doing commercial as well as independent films while talking about the carefree character of Kalki in the film, the topic deviated to whether an Indian parent instantly agrees on sending their daughters out on a road-trip or is hesitant given the amounts of tragic instances occurring every other day and women empowerment.

Speaking about it, Kalki said, “It is a patriarchal world. And we are the first generation who is talking about it. My nine-year-old brother will grow up different to our generation, as we talk about period, gender equality in front of him.”

As the conversation flowed on, the topic about actresses’ lives in the film industry popped up. On being asked whether Bollywood needs a women collective body like the Tamil film industry, Richa and Kalki instantly jumped in agreement saying that we should have one in Bollywood.

“We definitely need this body in Bollywood. I think there is a body of women in films and television where they listen to each other’s talks over lunch for an hour. There is a need for a collective body, especially, given how rampant the sexual harassment is…”

“Harassment is not just when somebody comes to you inside and says,’Come, sleep with me.’ All these are old tactics. Now, there are new ways of sexual harassment. It’s a problem when you go on an outdoor and the director calls you at 7 am. It is a problem because then we have to wake up at 5 or 6 am in the morning for work and we are not like those shabby girls who are desperate to make it. We are girls from great families. We have an education with the character or the path that we have chosen. Can we not do it with dignity? Why don’t you allow her (the actress) and if you don’t allow her or if you don’t let her then one day it will blow up and it will happen,” stated the ‘Fukrey’ actress.

She further went on to add how the audience is tolerant of watching heroes age on-screen but not heroines.

“It’s about how you talk about women. How will you tell a girl who’s doing a commercial film that’Oh, she’s 32 now, by 35 some other girl will come.’ Why aren’t they accepting, whereas they are okay accepting heroes who are 50, 60 and 70 who are still wearing vests and half-pant and running around? The truth is no matter what you do the world will not survive without women. It’s important; it’s not something that you can ignore by not giving women their right,” concluded Richa Chadha.

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