Richa Chadha on Acting Break: ‘It Really Took a Toll on My Body’; Actor Gears Up for Comeback

Richa Chadha has opened up about stepping away from acting after becoming a mother, revealing that postpartum recovery and the demands of producing Girls Will Be Girls left her physically exhausted. The actor is now preparing to return to films.

Richa Chadha is preparing to return to acting after taking a break from the camera following the birth of her daughter, Zuneyra Ida Fazal, whom she and Ali Fazal welcomed in July 2024.

Before her pregnancy, Richa’s last major on-screen appearance was in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar. She subsequently focused on Girls Will Be Girls, her debut production venture with husband Ali Fazal, while also navigating the physical demands of new motherhood.

In a recent interview with News18, Richa explained why she deliberately chose to spend less time in front of the camera during that period.

Richa Chadha Says Postpartum Recovery Took Time

Richa said she wanted a period of privacy and recovery after giving birth, describing it as her time to focus on nesting and healing.

“I wanted to be seen less. I wanted to have my nesting period. Six-eight months after my delivery, I was working very hard to get Girls Will Be Girls out,” she recalled.

Her responsibilities as a producer added another layer to an already demanding period. Richa said she was simultaneously working on the film’s release and dealing with platform negotiations and other production requirements.

“I was juggling between striking a deal with the platforms, the release, getting everything ready and the deliveries. It was a lot. And it really took a toll on my body,” she said.

Richa also spoke about the physical recovery following her delivery.

“I had to rest. I had to take vitamins. I couldn’t work because I had a natural delivery and I had lost a lot of blood. It took me a long time to recover, health-wise. My brain was foggy,” she said.

Her comments underline why she chose not to immediately return to a demanding acting schedule after becoming a mother.

Richa Chadha Is Ready to Return to Acting

Although she stepped away from regular acting work, Richa continued to remain professionally active behind and around the camera.

She revealed that she completed an OTT project during the period and also spent considerable time researching Musafiri, her upcoming non-fiction series.

“Uss time pe, main kya hi bahar jaake kaam karti? Despite that, I finished a show with an OTT platform. I also did the research for Musafiri, which took a long time. Speed thodi kam ho jaati hai when you’re handling so many things. I’m starting a film tomorrow. So, hopefully, you’ll see much more of me,” she said.

The actor’s comments suggest that her break from acting was not a complete pause from creative work. Instead, she continued developing projects while adjusting to motherhood and recovering physically.

What Is Richa Chadha’s Musafiri About?

Musafiri marks another new phase in Richa’s career. She has created, written, produced and hosted the series, which marks her entry into the non-fiction space.

Richa has described the project as a love letter to Mumbai and connected it with her experiences after becoming a mother.

She also said motherhood changed the way she looks at the world around her, particularly when thinking about the future her daughter will grow up in.

“The world is quite scary right now. There’s a dual threat of AI and climate collapse. As a mom, you start thinking of these things a lot,” Richa said.

She also reflected on what she wants to teach her daughter, particularly when it comes to questioning authority.

“I don’t think I’ve to instill in her that she needs to be liberal-minded. She’ll watch her surroundings and be what she wants to be. But I’ll teach her not to be scared of authority,” she added.

Richa Chadha on Women’s Roles in Bollywood

Richa has frequently spoken about the need for stronger and more nuanced female characters. Asked whether Bollywood has experienced a genuine shift in its approach to women’s stories and roles, she said she remains encouraged by some of the work coming her way, while believing there is still room for improvement.

“I’m happy with the work coming my way. Sometimes, the gaze is better and sometimes, it’s very superfluous. The writing needs to be better,” she said.

Richa also highlighted the importance of women having a stronger role in writing female characters.

“Women writing women is better than men writing their version of progressive women. Khaali daaru ki bottle pakda dete hai!” she remarked.

As Richa prepares to return to the set, her next phase appears to bring together acting, production and storytelling, while motherhood continues to influence how she approaches both her work and the world around her.