WE’VE TO FIGHT HUMAN TRAFFICKING: RICHA

Richa Chadha’s film Love Sonia was recently screened at the London Indian Film Festival 2018. The film deals with the issue of sex trafficking and Richa plays the role of a brothel owner. Since it deals with the dark side of the international racket, Richa got to know about the gruesome and harsh realities of sex trafficking more while working on the film.

“She learnt how minor girls from small towns are lured and kidnapped by sex trafficking mafia and trapped into the flesh trade and even organ harvesting. After the completion of the shoot, it took a toll on her emotionally. It took a while for her to cope with the situation, but she decided to take matters in her own hands and began associating with several NGOs that work with sex trafficking survivors and rescued victims. She channelled her emotional impact and worked across several causes related to the issue,” says a source.

Richa has tied up with an NGO, Purnata, to raise money for funding a home that shelters women rescued from sex trafficking. She even became the face for a leading brand’s women safety campaign, which is being supported by the US consul general.

Richa says, “This film made me contemplate a lot. When we got back from filming in LA, I did a crowdfunding initiative with an NGO to rehabilitate and give a safe new home to four girls, who were victims of rape and trafficking.” The actor adds that trafficking is an organised global nexus and that one film can’t change the scenario. “However, we have to fight it relentlessly. About 80% of the victims are women and they get embroiled in the flesh trade. This is modern day slavery. We need to discuss it more, so people can spot victims in their area and help out,” says the Fukrey Returns (2017) actor.