Richa Chadha Says Bollywood Avoids Newcomers: ‘When A Big Star’s Film Flops, Everyone Gets Scared’
Richa Chadha has called out Bollywood’s reluctance to support new talent, citing business-driven caution and the fear of risk following big-star film failures.
As concerns grow over Bollywood’s ongoing slump, more voices from within the industry are speaking out about its increasing creative hesitation. Following comments from filmmakers like Anurag Kashyap and Hansal Mehta about the Hindi film industry’s current struggles, actor-producer Richa Chadha has added her voice to the conversation—highlighting how the system continues to sideline emerging talent.
In a recent conversation with Hindustan Times, Richa addressed the growing difficulty newcomers face in landing meaningful opportunities. “We should give more chances to newcomers, but it’s very sad that even established filmmakers in Bollywood tend to stereotype actors," she said. Drawing from personal experience, she added, “Somewhere, the math of the business doesn’t allow us to take chances. And it’s not only limited to the actors but filmmakers as well."
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According to Richa, the problem is made worse by the underperformance of big-budget films, which has made producers even more risk-averse. “When a big film with a big star flops, everyone wants to play it safe. They want to add an item song, a fixed number of action scenes, and stick to formulas. But eventually, you realise that it’s innovation that keeps the industry alive," she explained.
As a producer herself—recently backing the critically acclaimed Girls Will Be Girls—Richa is actively working to create space for new voices. But she notes that the resistance to change is entrenched, even at the top. “Why am I, a new producer with just one film and primarily an actor, having to say this? Big stakeholders should be the ones talking about this."
She also drew attention to the South Indian film industries as a model Bollywood can learn from—especially in how they balance commercial success with creative risk. “We can learn from them, from how a big actor there is willing to take a chance on a story. They keep ticket prices low, which brings more people into theatres. Yahaan pe kuch ulta hota hai—here, it’s the opposite. If a film is big or hyped, ticket prices are raised."
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