Multiple movies aside, the actor on his production venture, realizing the dream of an all-female crew, and why he’s finally free of expectations
There weren’t any big a-ha moments but over the years, Richa Chadha has realized that she doesn’t care about the opinions of others about her choices. And this applies to different aspects of his life. “I am less afraid to embrace my own whims, write a book or get into production. I want to chart my own growth and create my own opportunities,” explains the actor and newly-minted producer. She was less than confident, this new attitude has helped the 34-year-old stand a little taller. “I have people I used to know gangs of wasseypur (2012) Tell me to my face they didn’t expect me to stay in the industry. I don’t know if they realized how aggressive they were, but I didn’t care.
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In the decades-plus years she has been in films, not only has Chaddha survived but she is thriving positively. His latest long-format offering, Voot Selects with Ronit Roy candy, a psychological whodunit set in the hills, is receiving favorable reviews for his role as a cop. Amazon Prime Season 3 inside edge will fall soon and she’s shooting six suspects, Which is based on Vikas Swarup’s bestseller and directed by Tigmanshu Dhulia. there too fukrey 3 Which will go on floors soon and Anubhav Sinha’s the party has just started. Apart from film projects, the production house is Push Button Studio where she has partnered with her real life partner Ali Fazal. his first film, girl will be girls There is an Indo-French production directed by his longtime friend and director, Suchi Talati. The script for the film has already been part of the Berlinale Script Station, the Jerusalem Script Lab and the recently concluded Gotham Week.
an all women team
Pushing buttons started not only with Chadha’s new rise in self-confidence, but also with ‘the desire for more creative control’. “There’s nothing more heartbreaking than watching a movie with huge potential because it wasn’t edited properly or turned into a sledgebag,” she says. The duo’s vision for the production house is to bridge the ‘tremendous disconnect between the kind of people we are and the stories we tell’. “Also being able to approach stories and ideas fearlessly,” says Chadha.
In what would be a revolutionary move of sorts, both Talati and Chaddha are keen to have an all-female crew for the film. “It is a coming-of-age story of a girl and it has a lot to do with her gender, her place in her school and her relationship with her mother. There have been times when I’ve wished there were only women on the set, and I’ve been on sets where, apart from the actors, the only women were the hairdressers. “
playing producer
The turning producer brings with it a whole new world of challenges that Chaddha is ready for. “Ali and I have both seen struggles, so we wanted to do our homework the right way and tick all the boxes in terms of what we have always wanted. It could be something as simple as writers and directors getting their due and more star status. girls will be girls Has been in development for over two years. We have worked on the script, done the right casting and applied for grants.” While Chadha and Fazal have worked together in the past, this is their first experience of partnering in a venture. “It’s all too much right now. New but I’m looking forward to it. He’s a smart guy who knows his mind, matches our aesthetics and we both have a grind. I don’t think there’s any room for arrogance in our relationship, but I anticipate some constructive disagreements. It is natural,” she says.
Another new experience for Chadha has been writing the script of the film. Although she did not share the details of the story, the actor describes the writing experience as ‘surreal and interesting’. “I started about five years ago and I had a male writing partner. Again, this was an area I didn’t trust very much. I remember always worried if I had any counter-arguments. He would have felt bad if he had. Then, it’s something I don’t worry about anymore.”
In the words of Chadha
One non-film commitment that Chadha is hoping to complete this year is for Penguin to ‘a book of personal essays that examines the long-term effects of colonialism’. “I’ve written about 30,000 words, including interviews with people and all the research. But now, when I read what I’ve written, it doesn’t feel right because I’ve changed — my belief system or body positivity, Feminism or the understanding of the industry is not what it used to be. So, I am very confused whether I should go back and rewrite.” Whatever their decision, Chaddha’ just another Bollywood takeover for a publishing firm ‘ I don’t want to be.
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