Actor Richa Chadha feels the star culture seeping in the digital space is not a bad thing. “Kya hoga star culture ke aane se? I don’t have any fear about it. In fact, it is good for the stars if they come on the OTT space,” Chadha shares.

Ask her what makes her say this, and the 34-year-old explains, “They will be able to reach a wider audience, including those who don’t really buy the commercial storylines. [They] can do exciting things. So, stars venturing into OTT is a great thing. This is my personal belief.”

Chadha has explored the medium with projects such as Inside Edge, Unpaused and her recent web show, Candy. “I always thought that there was space for OTT medium. This space was for people who could not relate to traditional television or the saas-bahu drama, and wanted to watch something [different]. I also witnessed that foreign content like Narcos was available, but not [in] Hindi. Initially, a lot of people thought that I had lost my mind. They told me, ‘Tum filmein karke kaise yeh kar sakti ho?’ All of them are now on OTT,” she reveals, adding that she always believed in the power of the digital space, and its “potential to grow”.

After the thrilling ride of Candy, about drug menace and a masked killer, Chadha is enjoying a little break, before diving into the world of Six Suspects, Tigmanshu Dhulia’s next web series.

“I have a whole bunch of projects starting in October end and November. So, I’m looking forward to getting some free time now. I’ll utilise this time to write, get into production or work on a full feature,” she says, revealing that she hopes to wrap up her stint on Dhulia’s project by the end of this year.

Richa Chadha was drawn to Candy as it gave her the opportunity to play a cop for the first time. Though the Ashish R Shukla-directed web series — revolving around sinister murders in a hill station — is a murder mystery at heart, Chadha says it also examines gender dynamics and the pressures that women police officers face.

To do justice to her role, she met Nainital’s women cops in December 2020 before the project went on floors. “Portraying the role of a cop demanded a different mental make-up. I was lucky to be able to meet some women cops, and understand their dual pressures of managing the family’s needs and working as a law enforcer,” states the actor.

Learning of their first-hand experiences helped Chadha approach the character with a fresh gaze. “Unlike male cops, they are burdened with the responsibility of a homemaker. They still have to take care of the in-laws, the kids, their education, and ensure that food is cooked at home. Many of them said that their relatives [taunt them] about not being hands-on with their children due to the tough duty hours. Hearing these experiences can be eye-opening.”

The Voot Select series also features Ronit Roy.

Her 13-year career so far has seen her headline projects belonging to various genres. However, a slick psychological thriller eluded Richa Chadha. It was enough reason for her to grab Candy with both hands when it came her way. That the series, which revolves around murders taking place in a hill station, marries suspense with superstitions and gender dynamics was another draw. 

“I wanted to play a cop for a long time. Here, I essay one who is trying to crack the case while the residents of the town believe [the murders are] the work of a supernatural force. My character has had a tragedy in the past, and this is a punishment posting,” says Chadha, who is joined by Ronit Roy in the Voot Select offering.

A police officer investigating a case while battling her demons is almost par for the course in murder mysteries. However, she insists Candy addresses relevant issues through the protagonist’s arc. “Playing characters with depth has always interested me. She is a DSP [Deputy Superintendent of Police] from the quota system. So, as she leads her team of male cops, there are [gender and caste] dynamics at play.”

Nainital served as the perfect location for the series helmed by Ashish R Shukla of Undekhi fame. The actor says she fell in love with the hill station as much for its picture-postcard beauty as for the mood it lent to the story. “Hills lend a certain character [to the proceedings]. Oddly, they are under-explored [on screen] in India.”

Richa Chadha has kicked off the new year with a new project. Currently stationed in Nainital, the actor is filming Candy, helmed by Ashish R Shukla of Bahut Hua Samman (2020) fame. Set in a boarding school, the noir thriller revolves around an investigation of a missing person that leads to a dark web of drugs, politics, and murder. 

Excited about her first attempt at a psychological thriller, Chadha says, “The various dimensions to my role drew me to the script. I have always portrayed characters that have depth, and this was another opportunity to explore a nuanced part.” That the project unites Chadha with one of her dearest friends is the cherry on top. “Ashish Shukla was one of the first people I met in the industry, at the beginning of my career,” recounts the actor.

The Voot Select series, also featuring Ronit Roy, is scheduled to drop online later this year. Shukla, who has dabbled in different subjects, says he often finds himself returning to the crime genre after Undekhi. “From the taut storyline to the dramatic climax [that the genre offers], I enjoy creating a mystery that instantly captures the viewers’ attention,” he says.