EXCLUSIVE: Richa Chadha reveals being advised to REJECT Fukrey’s Bholi Punjaban, says, “Woh apni girlfriend ko fit karne ki koshish kar rahe the”

Richa Chadha is currently basking in the success of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar. Despite her limited role in the period drama series, the actress – who has been part of films like Fukrey, Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!, Gangs of Wasseypur, Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela and more, left a lasting impression as the tragic Lajjo.

While on Bollywood Bubble’s podcast, Let’s Talk, Richa Chadha got candid about many things, including being advised to reject the role of Bholi Punjaban in Fukrey. She also opened up about being misguided and given unwanted career advice by industry people. Read on to know all she said.

Richa Chadha on being misguided in Bollywood

Talking about the (mis)advice given to her when she stepped into Bollywood and how long she took to see people’s true colours, Richa Chadha said, “I think mujhe zyada waqt nahi laga (to understand people and their motives). 2-3 saal lage. 2-3 logo ne bola ki yeh matt bolo ki you are educated zyada, ya tum bahut smart ho. Yaha pe thoda…” (I didn’t take time to understand people and their motives, maybe 2-3 years. A few people advised me not to reveal I’m highly educated.) She continued, “Pehle toh bahut karte the… things are changing now. Abhi internet aa gaya toh everyone wants to be an activist also, so it’s different.” (Earlier such advice was plenty, but with the internet there now, its become less.)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Richa Chadha (@therichachadha)

The ‘Heeramandi’ actress further states, “Bahut faltu advice dete hai shuru mein; toh aap khud ka discretion, dimaag use karna padta hai, ki yeh kya bol raha hai, isme samaj hai ya nahi. Aise toh bahut kisse hai… But when I look back, chhichhore log ya loosers, joh aise advice de rahe hai dusro ko, mujhe lagta hai khane ke bhi laale honge unke aaj. Pata nahi woh kaise guzhara kar rahe hai ab.” (People give you misleading/bad advice at the start of your career. So you need to use your brains and understand what’s good and what isn’t. There are many stories of people being given the wrong advice. When I look back, I wonder what those people who gave unwanted advice are doing now. They must be out of work.)

Richa on receiving unwanted career advice

Talking about receiving unwanted advice, Richa Chadha said, “Mujhe galat salha bhi diye logo ne success ke baad bhi.” (People gave me wrong and unwanted advice after I tasted success too.) She continued, “Ek senior actor ne mujhe bola tha ki, ‘Acha yaar dhekho tumhara pata nahi kya hoga. Shayad har director tumhe Dibarkar Banerjee jaisa na mille. Toh tum kar lo joh tumhe mil raha hai.’ Toh maine socha ki, ‘yaar yeh toh… wog khud bhi waise films karte the – character actor type ke log nahi hote… woh har dusre film mein hote hai.’ Toh you wonder, itna busy hai, itna paise kama rahe he, itna kaam kar rahe hai – sab kuch ho raha hai… But I thankfully didn’t take that advice very seriously.” (A senior actor, who features in several projects once told me my future wasn’t secure. You won’t always get a director like Dibankar Banerjee. So do whatever roles come your way. )

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Fukrey 3 (@fukrey3)

Richa Chadha on being told to reject Fukrey

The actress revealed she once adviced to say no to playing Bholi Punjaban in Fukrey. She said, “Oftentimes people aapko misguide bhi karte hai. Mujhe kissi ne bola, ‘Arey, Fukrey matt karo. Kya character hai, director ko kuch nahi aata, etc.’ Baad mein pata chala woh apni girlfriend ko (role mein) fit karne ki koshish kar rahe the.” (People often misguide you. Someone once told me, ‘Don’d do Fukrey. See the character, the director also is no good. Later I came to know he was trying to get his girlfriend the role.) She concluded, “Bahut competition hota hai industry mein. “ (There is a lot of competition in the industry.)

Watch the full interview here:

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Richa Chadha wants to change 80% of world governments, says “Kahi na kahi something is going wrong”