Richa Chadha inspired from Meena Kumari for her role in SLBâs Heeramandi
Richa Chadha, gearing up for the release of Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar on May 1st on a leading OTT platform, recently revealed that she drew inspiration from Meena Kumari’s character in Pakeezah for her role in the series.
The series, based on courtesans and their stories, is set in pre-independence Lahore. Richa Chadha portrays the character of Lajjo and prepared for the role by studying Meena Kumari’s character of Shahibjaan in Pakeezah. She studied the character, drew parallels, and watched her interviews for inspiration.
The actor shared that the experience was enriching and transformative, saying, “In the movie Pakeezah, Meena Kumari’s character has a certain tragic depth and complexity that resonated with Lajjo, the character that I play in the show.” She worked on her voice, diction, and studied Meena Kumari’s work, sometimes imitating her. She felt like she was following in the footsteps of a cinematic legend and it was an honor to pay tribute to Meena Kumariji through her portrayal of Lajjo.
Richa Chadha’s commitment to her craft is unparalleled. She immersed herself in the nuances of her character, watching interviews spanning over 50 hours, including rare ones, and reading her biography.
Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar is a series created by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and stars Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Sheikh, and Sharmin Segal, promising a cinematic experience.
