Richa Chadda has been her busiest after the success of Gangs of Wasseypur. She did Mira Nair’s short film and is a part of Sanjay leela Bhansali'’s Ramleela. The actress chats with Divya Kaushik on her unconventional choices
She is one of those few who come across as honest and overboard. Richa Chadda is open to share her struggle days and admit that after her first film Oye lucky lucky Oye, when the world had high expectations from her and termed her as “the next big thing” she actually had no work. “Then I decided to do things I love to do — dance, attend workshops and do theatre — all the things that I loved,” she said. And then Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs of Wasseypur (GOW) happened to her, which proved to be the turning point in her career. “life has changed in a major way. Earlier I would wonder if I would get work or if I would be able to sustain my career as an actor. I was worried if I could make my livelihood with acting. But now I feel comfortable and secured as a professional actor. People know me now and are and accepting me as an actor. If I go to a party I would not be left alone. I can walk up to Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan and introduce myself and I am confident that they will know me. After GOW I have received a lot of love and respect,” she said and added that she holds Anurag Kashyap in high regards. “He is my mentor, who gave me work, confidence and told me to be what I am. He told me that one should never ask for money until one is worth it. I have learnt a lot under him and hopefully I will be working again with him very soon.”
The actress will now be a part of Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Siddhwani’s Fukrey. And for all those who think that she took a year break, she clarified, “In this last one year I haven’t got time at all. After GOW I was shooting for Mira Nair’s short film. Then I started working on Sanjay leela Bhansali’s Ramleela, that was a long schedule. Then I took a six-day break as I had a conjunctivitis and after that I have been busy with Fukrey. Films are no easy business, they take time to complete. So I haven’t been on any break.”
She plays a negative role in Fukrey and terms herself in the film as “cruel and evil.” The film stars young actors like Pulkit Samrat, Manjot Singh and Ali Fazal. She is the villain of the film who gives the guy some tough time. “On the sets they used to bully me and say all mean things like ‘you look chubby’ and ‘you haven’t got your upper lips done.’ I used to be in tears sometimes, but once the camera was on, they were in my command. That is what I love most about my career. I get to play so many lives and be someone that I cannot be in real life. I am a compassionate person who can cry seeing a beggar on street. I am almost a vegan and I don't even use leather but if you will follow the kind of roles that I have done they are a complete contrast to my real personality,” shared Richa, who feels glad that by now she has worked with A list directors in the industry and her unconventional choice of roles helped her create a niche. “Unconventional is the new norm in Bollywood and I don’t want to be one of those actresses who sing and dance till they are 30 and then suddenly realise they need to act to sustain. I am taking the other way round,” she said quoting example of Madhuri Dixit. “It is only the talent that matters today. Madhuri Dixit has made a comeback like no one else-she is the face of a dance reality show, is doing Gulab Gang and Dedh Ishqiya and is reportedly charging a crore per day on TV. Actresses like Raveena Tandon and Sonali Bendre are busier than I am,” she commented.