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Richa rich

This lovely Punjaban, Richa Chaddha, has some strong and happy memories of Punjab and a deep connect with her home state.

Richa rich


Nonika Singh

This lovely Punjaban, Richa Chaddha, has some strong and happy memories of Punjab and a deep connect with her home state. Born in Amritsar, she yearns for makki ki roti and sarson ka saag.  The Tribune is a paper she would love to associate with, but recalls with a tinge of regret for it denied her the first summer job! Chandigarh, a city she loves, is also a place where her mausi lives and where she would go for morning walks at the Sukhna lake.

 Today, the star of films like GOW, Fukrey and Masaan wouldn’t mind doing the same. Says she, “I have no issues walking down the road; if people recognise me all they would ask for is a selfie, which is alright. As long as people do not harass me or disturb me when I am working, I don’t get ruffled easily.”

Grounded girl

Indeed, in Chandigarh for PTC awards show recently, Richa seems to be a no-fuss person. Most conversations with stars take place over cuppa coffee, hers continue over her make-up session. Her make-up artist makes us shift places…but can’t stop the flow of her thoughts or words. Except for this starry aspect of hers, little about her speaks of her attitude and chutzpah that reflect in her many onscreen avatars. Instead, you meet a rather grounded girl, ready to talk about her life, facets of Bollywood and also how films are made by international makers.  

Soon to be seen in Indo-American production, Love Sonia, which deals with the serious issue of human trafficking, she can’t stop gushing about their professionalism and how they are a stickler for punctuality. “Imagine the director Tabrez Noorani worked with victims of human trafficking   for 10 long years before going ahead with the project. Unlike Bollywood, where even biopics are planned with little afterthought for the person in question, their passion truly comes from deep within.” And it’s not just the director who has impressed her but also iconic stars such as Demi Moore. “She has inspired me to take up charity work seriously.” 

Star speak

Indeed, Bollywood actors too have begun to find their voice, often for a purpose and at times at cross-purpose with “discourses ending up like the heated television debates. Some people speak to grab headlines; others want to make a point.” With the decibels rising over the nepotism issue, she, an outsider, agrees, “There is a system of hierarchy and heredity. But beyond that not all star kids are stars and people have made it on their own. Look at who are the biggest stars today… talent does count.”

Hers has not only made directors sit up and take notice but also made audiences back a small film like Fukrey. Now that she is ready with Fukrey Returns, she doesn’t think reprising the same part of the lovable bad woman, Bholi Punjaban, was more difficult. “In the last few years, I have grown as an actor.” Besides she credits the director Mrighdeep Singh Lamba who had every single detail, right from tiger prints jotted down on the paper, for making her job rather easy. You and me may think sequels are rarely better, she is 200 percent sure Fukrey Returns will be greater fun! 

Serious note

And with this she also knocks the presumption that she is only associated with serious, meaningful cinema.  She smiles, “But yes I do bring meaning to everything I do.” Misogyny may or may not be part of her book, which she insists will be largely experiential, but fighting prejudices is certainly high on her priority list. “If India has to be really on the highway of growth as our Prime Minister keeps reminding, you can’t treat 50 per cent of its population shoddily and can’t have ministers saying…she asked for it.”

 As Bollywood is fast changing, as portrayal of female characters is in for a positive transformation, she can take a bow for being part of the change she would love to see!

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