Richa Chadha’s personality
reflects in her performances -- they are honest, uninhibited. Beneath that
striking simplicity lies a steely resolve to live life on her terms. Before her
latest film Cabaret hits the screens tomorrow, SpotboyE gets the actress to
open up about everything from career to love. Here are excerpts from an exclusive
interview...
With Cabaret, you are venturing
into commercial cinema for the first time. Were you hesitant initially?
I am quite nervous, but never
hesitant. I wanted to try something new. I did it for the love of songs and
dance. I thought ‘why not’?
You have a lot of dance sequences
in Cabaret. Was it tough?
My choreographers, especially
Shabina Khan, gave me a lot of time. One of my friends, Ratika Kumar, is an
incredible dancer and she also helped me a lot. Pooja (Bhatt, producer) would
also constantly ask me to point my toes and lengthen my neck.
Pooja is known to lose her temper
quite often...
She didn’t lose her temper with
me, but she is a hard task master. She would really twist me to get the best
out of me, she was constantly driving me to do better.
Are you ready for the public to
see you in a different light?
How does it matter? No one can do
anything about public opinion. I will be very happy if people like it and very
respectful if they don’t.
You were working for Sarbjit and
Cabaret at the same time. They are entirely different films, how did you
manage?
Towards the end, I was shooting
for each movie on alternate days. It wasn’t easy, but I could do Sukhpreet’s
role (Sarabjit’s wife) effortlessly, because it had that Punjabi touch. I could
understand the character well.
Which has been your toughest film?
Gangs of Wasseypur (2012). I was
very young and had to work with senior actors -- I had to fit in and perform
with equal power. I had grown up with a different kind of people, so the switch
was tough. But I have a career because of that film.
Are you in touch with Anurag
Kashyap (Gangs of Wasseypur director)?
I meet him often, he is my
mentor. No matter what people say, he is one of the most impactful people
around. We have so much talent in the industry today, because of the faith he
showed in people.
Anurag is better at what --
writing or directing?
I would comment on that if I knew
either. I just know acting.
Have you seen Bombay Velvet?
I liked it and even tweeted about
it. Tell me, if someone else had made this film, somebody who was responsible
for making commercial films with a regressive logic and a story that didn’t
have to be necessarily good, would you say the same thing? You base what you
expect of the film on the basis of what you know of the director. I was on
Twitter that day and I saw how people just pounced on it.
Most didn’t like it…
Haan, toh kya ho gaya? People
went after him and Ranbir like they are Gods who are not allowed to fail.
Everybody fails; it’s just that in showbiz, failure is public.
Moving on to Sanjay Leela
Bhansali, are you in touch with your Ram-Leela director?
Yes, he is a true visionary. He
has always been.
Does it pinch you that Anurag
didn’t cast you in Bombay Velvet and Bhansali in Bajirao Mastani?
Of course not. Have I not been
working with other people? If I can work with others, why can’t they? I am sure
when they have a role that only I can do, they will call me. It would be very
selfish of me to say that “Unki agli picture toh main hi karungi”.
Do you think you got slotted in
unconventional roles?
I want to be a real person and
choose roles accordingly. You have to ask yourself, ‘What are you looking
for?’, ‘Are you looking for good content?’ Everyone is thirsty for
performance-oriented roles and I am lucky to get them. I like acting, but not
the machinery around it like networking, going to parties and becoming a
fashionista. When I am clear about what I want, why will I bother about other
things? Most of the people chase those other things, and that’s why they get
confused.
But you get paid less for such
films...
Yes, but I will tell you how to
deal with it. You can make 10 rupees for 5 days (50 rupees) or 5 rupees for 100
days (500 rupees). I prefer the latter.
Your sex scene in Masaan was very
bold…
It was not bold, it was very
realistic. There was no zooming in on anybody’s body. That scene was crucial,
it was not romanticised or glamourised.
What are your views on
censorship?
If you are above 18 and can vote,
get married which involves another person and drive, how come you cannot hear
the word ‘saala’ in a movie? Are you saying that contributing to the nation is
less important than watching a movie?
What are your views on Shyam
Benegal’s proposal about not censoring the movies?
I was leaning towards not having
censorship, but I am a bit muddled in my thoughts about how some things can be
politically insensitive or spread stereotypes -- especially about gender,
making fun of lesbians and gays and targeting certain communities. That is what
needs to be dealt with sensitivity.
Are you single?
Yes.
There is no French boyfriend?
There was, but what is so
abnormal about it?
How do you feel when a
relationship doesn’t work out?
I feel like I feel about
everything. I feel normal, I don’t let too many circumstances get to me.
Are you saying you believe in
casual relationships?
No, I am just saying that I don’t
like to fret about things. I just accept whatever happens. There is a saying in
Stoicism that says ‘Love your fate’. So, I live like that.
What are your views on Salman
Khan endorsing Rio Olympics?
I feel there is a lot more to cry
about -- for example, drought. Somebody has appointed him as the brand
ambassador, because millions of people know him and aspire to be like him. If
his endorsement helps grab more eyeballs and encourages people to make a career
in sports, why not? Like I said, there are so many things to worry about. I was
listening to radio the other day and there was an ad about saving water. Barely
after 5 seconds, there was another ad -- this time, of a water park. We need to
get our priorities straight.
Deepika Padukone and Anushka
Sharma have spoken about actresses being paid less. What do you think?
They are huge stars. I can
comment on this only when I sell tickets on my name. But in my opinion, pay
should have nothing to do with gender in any field. In business, pay should
purely depend on who makes how much money. When people reach that stage, they
demand what they deserve. And they are right in doing that.
Tell us about your international
project..
The film’s title is Love Sonia
and it is about human trafficking. It has a great cast and team. The producer
is David Womark and the director, Tabrez
Noorani.. I will start shooting for it in May.
What’s next?
I have Fukrey 2, which will start
a little later in the year. But I am surely taking a break in June or July.
Image Source: Manav Manglani, facebook/therichachadha, Xoomclips & Vidamanejo