Actor Richa Chadha says that her forthcoming film, Madam Chief Minister, highlights the pertinent issue of caste-based discrimination. By Ayushi Sharma

The very first poster of the forthcoming film, Madam Chief Minister — where a woman held up a broom like a sword and the tagline at the bottom read, “Untouchable, Unstoppable,” —raised hackles. Actor Richa Chadha, the lead, who plays a Dalit woman, was accused of stereotyping the community. Despite retracting the poster and the actor issuing an apology, Nawab Satpal Tanwar, the reported founder of Akhil Bhartiya Bhim Sena, has been continuously making and uploading videos on social media platforms to instigate violence against the actor and her film. If that was not enough, he even issued death threats and is now offering a reward to anyone who can chop off her tongue. The outrageous act is certainly driven by an agenda to grab eyeballs riding on the coat tails of the popular industry – something which has become the highway to popularity for many.

But Richa, is her non chalant self as she says, “I don’t want to amplify anybody. Let them watch this film and then we can talk about it.” Certainly, she doesn’t seem to be intimidated.

The Bhim Army, a Dalit party with national presence, has condemned this threat and said that it is not to be confused with Tomar’s Bhim Sena. Actor Swara Bhasker also tweeted in support of Chadha, “This is absolutely shameful and to be condemned in no uncertain terms. You can have ideological issues and problems with a film but this is criminal intimidation and incitement to violence. Ambedkarites, Dalit feminists and just sane people, stand up and call this out!”

The film highlights the pertinent issue of caste-based discrimination. It is the story of a woman from an oppressed community, who defies all odds to scale new heights of political success in Uttar Pradesh. This is the first time Richa plays a political character on screen. She tells us that she has played every role with the same amount of love and zeal and this one is no different.

“Everything I play means something to me and it should convey something to the audience. So, a political character was no different but this one is quite close to my heart simply because she is a woman from a backward community. I wanted to ensure that I play her to the best of my ability. I have worked very hard for this,” says the actor, who was last seen in the biopic, Shakeela.

“This character is inspired from several real life anecdotes and is not focussed on any one particular leader. My director, Subhash Kapoor, was a political journalist. He met a lot of people and gathered the stories. I think such real life stories are important, especially when you are making a film. It is based on interactions with many leaders. It’s everything that we have seen and read about Indian politics, how MLAs behave before and after the election results are announced. So these are some elements of the film,” adds she.

In a country like India, where dissent, criticism and negative remarks are not looked upon kindly by the government, can a film like this voice the drawbacks about Indian government without facing challenges? She says, “I don’t think this film passes a comment against the Indian or any other government. It’s definitely a comment on the ugly reality of gender politics and caste-based discrimination.”

Richa feels that in India, the caste system is found in many forms despite there being several laws prohibiting it. There are limits on interaction and behaviour with people from another social status. “I thought it only happens in slums and places that are removed from modern civilisation but that’s not the case. When you read about the suicide of Rohith Vemula or the case of Pooja, a medical student and how she was bullied by her own medical practitioners, you realise that the reality is different. I don’t know how we are ignoring such things. I hope that this film initiates some kind of a conversation. I learnt a lot about my own self and privilege while working on this,” she says.

Let’s hope India breaks the shackles of prejudice, discrimination and violence, and the country moves towards the heaven of freedom for all.

(The film releases on January 22. It also stars Manav Kaul, Saurabh Shukla, Akshay Oberoi and others.)