Actor Richa Chadha has spoken about her decision to step into film production, explaining that her desire to tell different kinds of stories and the limited range of roles available to women influenced her journey behind the camera.
Known for her performance-driven work in films and streaming projects, Chadha expanded her creative career by becoming a producer through her production venture, Pushing Buttons Studios. Her move into production reflected a growing desire to participate not only in acting but also in the development of stories from an earlier stage.
“There Was a Need for Certain Kinds of Movies”
Speaking about what motivated her to become a producer, Richa said that the idea of production had been present in her mind for some time.
“There was a need for certain kinds of movies and I wanted to make them,” she said.
The actor explained that conversations with people from the industry often led to discussions about stories and ideas that generated excitement and creative interest.
“I would often sit with a number of people from the industry and discuss the excitement and passion of various ideas. Production was always there at the back of my mind, but I never could actively pursue it,” she said.
Looking Beyond Acting
For Richa Chadha, becoming a producer also created an opportunity to explore her strengths beyond acting.
She said that stepping into production helped her become more confident about the creative work she wanted to pursue through Pushing Buttons Studios.
“So maybe it wasn’t a eureka moment for me, but it helped me to be more confident about what was already building up with Pushing Buttons,” Richa explained.
The actor also spoke about the limited number of compelling roles often available to women in the industry and how this encouraged her to think more broadly about creating opportunities.
“Having the sense of not enough good roles around that were being pitched to female leads, I felt the willingness to do much more with the opportunity available,” she said.
Drawing Inspiration From Other Women Producers
Richa has also spoken about her admiration for actor and producer Anushka Sharma, particularly for the kind of creative work pursued through her production ventures.
“I have always admired Anushka Sharma for trying to do the same with her studio,” Richa said.
She also mentioned her interest in the thriller genre and spoke about wanting to explore stories with a similar creative energy.
“I personally loved NH10 and always wanted to make a thriller along those lines as well. Perhaps I should think of making something in that genre under Pushing Buttons soon,” she added.
Girls Will Be Girls and Her Journey as a Producer
Richa Chadha’s work as a producer has marked an important chapter in her career. Her involvement with Girls Will Be Girls reflected her interest in supporting stories that offer a distinctive perspective and place character-driven narratives at the centre.
The move from actor to producer has allowed her to engage with filmmaking from another creative and professional perspective. Production involves developing projects, working with creative teams and helping bring a story from its early stages to the screen.
For actors who choose to produce, the transition can also provide greater involvement in the kinds of stories and characters that reach audiences.
Balancing Acting and Production
Richa Chadha’s career now spans both acting and production, requiring her to balance the demands of performing with the responsibilities of developing and supporting projects.
Her decision to become a producer came relatively early in her acting career compared with the traditional path followed by some established actors who move into production later.
Rather than viewing the two roles as separate journeys, Chadha’s comments suggest that acting and producing can complement each other by allowing her to participate in storytelling from different perspectives.
A Broader Creative Vision
Richa Chadha’s journey into production reflects a wider shift within the Indian entertainment industry, where more actors are becoming involved in developing and producing content.
For Chadha, the motivation appears to be closely connected to a desire to see more diverse stories on screen and to explore creative opportunities beyond the roles offered to her as an actor.
As she continues to work across acting and production, her career demonstrates how performers can increasingly take a more active role in shaping the stories they want to tell.
