Richa Chadha: I am not foolish to say that everything I have chosen has worked out

Actor Richa Chadha has earned the reputation of doing unconventional work in her 14-year-long career. But 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 the people involved, or liking a script to signing work due to free time — there are various factors that drive her decision 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.”

The actor goes on to talk about some roles that she can’t say no to, case in point — her cult character Bholi Punjaban from the Fukrey franchise.

“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,” she adds.

That being said, the 35-year-old feels that all the choices whether right or wrong has led her to this place she is today and she has no regrets.

“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.