French honour for Richa Chadha

Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; October 4, 2025)

In July this year, Masaan celebrated a decade since its release. Richa Chadha reflects on one of her most defining roles and shares insights into what makes the film still so poignant and relevant. Masaan also marked the powerful directorial debut of Neeraj Ghaywan and beyond Richa, featured compelling performances by Shweta Tripathi & Vicky Kaushal. Excerpts from a chat with Richa…

Masaan was a landmark film of your career. What does this film mean to you, personally and professionally?
Even though Gangs Of Wasseypur gave me a breakthrough, it was Masaan that opened my eyes to the world. It gave me credibility. A film is forever. And I am so grateful that I have this in my filmography as early work. Also, it was the time of great innocence because I met Neeraj as the script supervisor on Gangs of Wasseypur. Varun Grover was the lyricist for Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!. I knew these creators would become conscience keepers of the film business. But so sweet that we all began this way.

Neeraj Ghaywan’s stories often dig deeper and work as a social commentary on societal disparities. What was it like to work with him?
Neeraj is self-aware, conscientious, honest and compassionate. Every day on the film was a new learning. I wish I had the wisdom then that I have today, but even friendship with Neeraj is something that leaves you richer with more meaning, like an education of some kind. Look at Homebound (India’s official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the Academy Awards). I bet people are envious that Martin Scorsese presented his film! Wow!

Vicky Kaushal started his career in a way with this film, what were your first thoughts on himas a co-actor?
I remember Vicky not just as a co-actor, but also as an assistant director on Gangs Of Wasseypur. He was always charming, very driven and hardworking.

There’s a lot of talk on how AI can be used to alter endings of movies while re-releasing them. It happened with Raanjhanaa. Varun Grover shared a funny video on how some believed the ending of Masaan could be happier. What are your thoughts on this?
I think Masaan was as happy as it could be. We are living in a world where we rush to repress our natural instincts and feelings. So, what if the ending of a film makes you feel sad? Are you hoping to go through life without feeling sad, angry, hopeless or frustrated ever? Sorry, I am not delusional. I think using AI to alter ends or beginnings is how some businesspeople think they are proving that they’ve become savvy with tech.

What makes Masaan so relevant even today?
Masaan is still relevant because it reflects the hypocrisy of a system that seeks to delegitimize and shame the youth for healthy curiosity about coitus, in the most populous country of the world. It showcases the hypocrisy of a society that hates a majority of its own people, based on their assumptions about a belief system from thousands of years ago.