Richa Chadha: Tried my hand at scriptwriting during lockdown last year

Having helmed a short film that will drop online, Richa Chadha on juggling writing, direction and acting

Though she forayed into the industry as an actor, Richa Chadha knew that her love for cinema went well beyond lending her face to films. The actor, having worked closely with filmmakers Anurag Kashyap, Neeraj Ghaywan and Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, hoped to graduate to direction some day. It is her desire to tell stories that has led her to direct the yet-untitled short film, which stars Ali Fazal and offers a satirical take on environmental abuse. Even as she awaits the digital premiere of the short film, Chadha has put pen to paper to develop her next script.

“I’ve always enjoyed writing. It’s one of my go-to activities that help clear my mind,” she says, happy to juggle the distinct roles of filmmaking. Over the past year, she has been spending a few hours at the writing table every day, giving shape to the dark comedy. “As the lockdown descended upon us last year, I took up writing in a more creative way and tried my hand at scriptwriting. My biggest inspiration has been [actor-writer] Phoebe Waller-Bridge. I feel actors should attempt writing. Whether [the first draft] is good or bad, it doesn’t matter,” says Chadha, who also launched her production house, Pushing Buttons Studios, earlier this year.

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