French honour for Richa Chadha

Richa Chadha

Weeks after she enjoyed a hit in Fukrey 3, comes another milestone for Richa Chadha. The actor will be conferred with the prestigious Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres, one of the highest orders given by the French government to achievers in the realms of cinema, arts, and literature. With this honour, she joins the ranks of Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Oscar winner Guneet Monga, who have previously been recognised for their contribution to Hindi cinema.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan

The ceremony, which will take place tomorrow at the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, promises to be a celebration of Chadha's Bollywood journey. In the past 15 years, the actor has collaborated with esteemed filmmakers such as Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Anurag Kashyap, Neeraj Ghaywan and Dibakar Banerjee, with films like Gangs of Wasseypur (2012) and Masaan (2015) going to the Cannes Film Festival.

Chadha's influence extends beyond the silver screen as she advocates for women's rights and gender equality. Her activism goes hand-in-hand with her actions - the newly-turned producer recently established The Undercurrent Lab, which trains women to be gaffers in the film industry. Reacting to the honour, Chadha says, "It is an overwhelming and humbling moment for me to be recognised by the French government and the Counsel General of France to India. To stand in the company of legends such as Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is a testament to the power of storytelling, and the impact cinema can have on bridging cultures and societies. This accolade reaffirms my belief that storytelling knows no boundaries, and it's my responsibility to contribute meaningfully to the global dialogue."