Richa Chadha’s portrayal of Lajjo in Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar has earned her praise and admiration from viewers. Although the actress was initially offered a role with more screen time, she deliberately chose to play Lajjo in the Sanjay Leela Bhansali saga. She shared that the reasoning behind her decision was the recognition of the character’s potential to leave a lasting impact on audiences.
However, this is not Richa’s first foray into playing complex female characters. Her previous notable work includes Fukrey, Ram-Leela and Madam Chief Minister. The actress saw Lajjo as an opportunity to showcase her versatility as an actor in Heeramandi.
Richa Chadha reveals why she chose Lajjo over a bigger character in Heeramandi
In an interview with Pinkvilla, Richa Chadha revealed, “Sanjay sir was the showrunner when I was initially approached for Heeramandi. He had offered me a different part that had more screen time. But because an actor also needs to see what’s in here that’s new for me, I chose Lajjo.”
Her portrayal of Lajjo, a courtesan drowned in love for a Nawab who shows no mercy to her, has met with overwhelmingly positive feedback from viewers. Social media users have praised Chadha’s performance. This highlights her ability to steal the show despite a relatively limited time on screen.
Chadha, a trained Kathak dancer, also performed a significant dance sequence in the show. She commented, “I’ve always harbored a desire to incorporate Kathak dance into my onscreen roles, and Heeramandi provided the perfect opportunity to do so. As a trained Kathak dancer, bringing Lajjo’s dance number to life was a fulfilling experience, adding another layer of authenticity to the character.”
Richa’s strategic choice reflects her dedication to her craft. By choosing quality over quantity, she has significantly impacted the viewers of Heeramandi.