A Stellar Act Richa Chadha

The actor who has given her career-best performance as Lajjo in Heeramandi, proving that the screen-time is inconsequential in making a role memorable, dissects the character and reveals what went on behind-the-scenes

- Ananya Ghosh

Although Richa Chadha didn't have as much screen time as the rest of the Heeramandi women, her's was probably a performance that will stay with you the longest. She plays Lajjo, the perennially drunk and frightfully delusional middleaged tawaif, who was sold to the brothels as a 6-year-old and groomed into the Heeramandi ways. Her's is a quest for freedom, and she has brainwashed herself into believing that her nawab, the man she is in love with, is that knight in shining angrakha, who will get her out of this prison. "Lagta hai ab bohot jald azaad ho jayenge" she keeps saying. But when she gets her azaadi, it is not exactly what she had in mind, and the final disillusionment spells her doom. The actor's empathy beautifully gleans the character's nuances from the complex back story and she channels a mix of Miss Havisham of Great Expectations and Choti Bahu of Sahib Bibi aur Ghulam in the emotionally fragile Lajjo. The result is an exquisite performance that can be considered as Richa's - an actor who has given us characters like Nagma Khatoon (Gangs of Wasseypur), Devi Pathak (Masaan) or Bholi Panjaban (Fukrey franchise) - career-best work. We caught up with the actor to talk about Lajjo and what went on behind building such an impactful on-screen character: Excerpts:

Although it is a Sanjay Leela Bhansali project, you have limited screentime. What made you pick up Lajjo?

I Actually, I was offered two other characters-which I will not reveal as that would be unfair to the actors who eventually played it--but I wanted Lajjo. For me, this character was an opportunity to show my range and versatility. Moreover, I had never attempted anything like this before; I knew it would surprise the audience. I took a very calculated risk of doing this character. And I think the risk has paid off.