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Only in Sarbjit, I felt misused, says Richa
From playing the mother of Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s character in Gangs of Wasseypur (2012) to making her presence felt in the festival circuit as well as at the box office, actor Richa Chadha has carved her own niche. The Delhi-born actor has played substantial roles in films as different as Fukrey (2013), Masaan (2015), and Sarbjit (2016). The saga of the man captured by the Pakistan army was one of the most talkedabout films of the year, but Richa isn’t happy with her role in it. “I would say that only in Sarbjit, I felt misused. I regretted choosing the film,” says the actor. While she is an acclaimed actor, Richa has mostly played supporting characters, except in Masaan. Does she feel bad that mainstream filmmakers are not signing her for lead roles? She says, “If a producer is looking for a business of ₹100 crore from a film, they need a star like Deepika Padukone. It is a professional reason. I’m okay with all that. I’m not here to make money anyway. I want to leave a mark on every project that I take up.” She is eager to work with some of the young female filmmakers in the country. “Whether it is Alankrita Shrivastava, Zoya Akhtar or Reema Kagti, I love their work,” she says. “They’re really good filmmakers and storytellers. I was almost doing a film with Reema, but it got cancelled last minute. I am looking forward to working with her in the future.”
On the subject of choices, Richa admits that playing the mother of an older man (in Gangs of Wasseypur) at the age of 24 was certainly a risk “for which nobody appreciated me”. She adds, “There were people who thought that I’m much older than what my actual age was. But some understood my calibre.” Richa was also offered the role of Hrithik Roshan’s mother in Agneepath (2012). “I think that was really stupid of the person who offered me that role. I think he was smoking something wrong,” quips the actor, who is known for speaking her mind.