Mumbai: “I don’t intend to do typical commercial cinema, make big bucks, do a couple of item numbers and then realise in my 30s that I need to start acting.” That’s Richa Chadda for you, unconventional, with a mind of her own that goes way beyond her years. She has carved a niche in Bollywood despite lacking the film pedigree in a short span. As she gears up for her first-ever theatrical act in Chennai, Trivial Disasters; DC had her open up about theatre, films, her Tamil tie-in and more.
Though this is her first performance in Chennai, her brush with Tamil dates back to the time she was a kid. “I have been to Chennai quite a few times and I also visit Puducherry often. It’s a beautiful city. Also, I can both read and write Tamil. I learnt it when I was in school. It’s a difficult, yet lovely language.”
Trivial Disasters has a series of comic sketches that will represent in lighter vein the cliched episodes and predicaments from our everyday lives. “It’s been an extremely demanding experience for me as an artiste. I’ve pushed myself as a performer with every rehearsal," says Richa as she grabs a bite in between rehearsals.
As we probe her knowledge of Tamil cinema, she says, “I’ve watched many Tamil films, like Iruvar, Roja, Bombay and a lot of Kamal Haasan films. He’s a wonderful actor.” Considering the fact that she knows the language she says she is open to doing Tamil films. “I would love to do a Tamil film, provided the script and character offered to me are more than appealing. Who would not want to work with the world class talent here!”
She didn’t think twice before accepting the role of a Tam Brahm in her upcoming release, Jiah Aur Jiah, co-starring Kalki Koechlin. The two will swap their original cultural identities. While Richa plays a south Indian girl named Jiah Venkatraman in the movie, Kalki will essay the part of a Punjabi, named Jiah Garewal. “I had to learn from Kalki about getting the Tam Brahm girl act right. And I helped her with her Punjabi,” she says. She is all praise for Kalki. “Kalki is a wonderful actress, an extremely strong individual and a great human being. I’ve learnt a lot from her. Working with her is an absolute pleasure,” she puts forth.
For Richa, who was a typical middle-class girl, life has changed in a big way. “I used to get cold feet, when I saw huge crowds and flashing cameras. I was worried about all the scrutiny. Now I’ve started to fit into the milieu and I am growing more confident by the day. But I haven’t grown horns and I’m not a diva at home.” But the self-doubt has gone, she adds. “I know that this is my true calling.”
