The Gangs of Wasseypur actress Richa Chadha revealed that she wanted to turn producer right after her breakthrough film Gangs of Wasseypur but it was not taken kindly by the people around her.
"I wanted to produce something right after 'Gangs...' I was 24 at that point of time. I said can we invest some money? I had no manager, nothing. Everyone shot me down and said 'you're so young and stupid, you won't be able to do anything'," Richa told.
Five years later, the actress has finally taken the plunge by producing a short film titled, "Khoon Aali Chithi".
The actress says producing content which one believes in is gratifying.
"I want to encourage young people to come forward and take charge. We have something which the previous generation didn't- the Internet. There is a huge democracy in that. There is so much scope. Go out there and make your content," she said.
While she is known for her stellar performances in films like "Gangs of Wasseypur", "Masaan" and "Fukrey", Richa says she learnt different aspects of cinema when she donned the producer's hat.
"Producing the film was really amazing. It made me look at things from the other point of view; where I am wondering 'why are actors so expensive, so much money needs to be spent on them, vanity van, make up etc,'" she said.
"Khoon Aali Chithi" is a 15-minute-long film and explores an innocent love story set against the backdrop of the turmoil in Punjab in the early 90s.
Though born in Delhi to a Punjabi father and Bihari mother, Richa says she feels connected to the "soil of Punjab", a state which has been through a lot.
"There were very simple times in Punjab. I am emotionally connected to Punjab. It has been through a lot. It was burnt in the Partition, there was Suba movement, families were torn apart, people lost livelihood and then they had to restart again and hope for a better life. There is so much which it (Punjab) has witnessed," she said.
Directed by Rupinder Inderjit, the short film releases digitally today.
