Richa Chadha is in the third trimester of her first pregnancy with actor-husband Ali Fazal, expecting to deliver in July. The couple, who announced their big news in February, have meticulously planned their schedules around the pregnancy. “I’m planning to get back to work by October,” Chadha shares.

She reveals that her first project after delivery will be a musical romcom featuring 18 songs. “We plan to start shooting in the second week of October in Himachal Pradesh, capturing the autumn season and the beautiful skyline just before winter. The film is about a musical band in a small hill town. It’s a love story but also a family film with many dynamics. We’re currently in the pre-production stage, and work is not stopping,” she explained.

Ask if Fazal also plans to take paternity leave, Chadha says, “You’ll have to ask him, but he is very hands-on and is timing his work commitments accordingly. I think fathers should always be around. It’s not just about helping the mother but also about spending time with the child.”

During her pregnancy, Chadha actively promoted her recent series Heeramandi and continued to focus on her work commitments as both an actor and a producer. She finds inspiration from the women around her, saying, “I saw my mum get back to work within a month of having my brother. The women who work in our house, doing cleaning and cooking, how much time do they get as maternity leave? Those women are my heroes.”

She adds, “It comes down to how much help you can get and what kind of support system you have in your family. That’s what matters to new mothers. We’ve planned it so that neither Ali nor I stop working during this time, as work is our elixir.”