Richa Chadha, Ali Fazal On Directorial Debut With Girls Will Be Girls: ‘You Don’t Know The Fate’

Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal have stepped into the role of producers with their maiden venture, Girls Will Be Girls. Directed by Shuchi Talati, the film debuted to critical acclaim at Sundance and other international film festivals. It became widely available to audiences last week through its release on Amazon Prime Video. In an exclusive conversation with Hindustan Times, the duo opened up about the journey of bringing the project to life.

Girls Will Be Girls marks Talati’s directorial debut and follows the story of a schoolgirl navigating academics, first love, and a complex relationship with her mother. Despite its compelling narrative, getting the film made was no easy feat. Ali Fazal highlighted the financial challenges they faced during the production phase.

“When we were taking the film to get made, we would reach out to different people; you get a sense that everyone wants to make their money back. It’s an investment,” Fazal explained. “With big films, you have your A-listers, and you know there will be something coming back. Here, you don’t know the fate of the film.”

Despite the hurdles, Fazal expressed pride in sticking with the project. “We were finding our footing in world cinema, so we are going to have those teething issues. But I’m glad we could champion a script like this,” he said.

The film’s trailer, released on YouTube, drew praise for its bold subject matter, with many observing that mainstream Bollywood would typically shy away from such themes. Responding to these remarks, Richa Chadha reflected on Bollywood’s identity.

“I feel Bollywood itself is very imaginary. Fifteen families between Bandra and Goregaon think of themselves as Bollywood. But actually, it’s not a real geographical location. It’s the Hindi film industry, and that keeps changing and evolving. It keeps including new people,” she said.

Chadha also noted the significance of the film finding a home on a major platform like Amazon Prime Video. “In a way, a big platform becoming the home of a film like this is also a sign that things are changing. And of course, yes, it helps that we are attached to it,” she added.

With its global acclaim and strong backing, Girls Will Be Girls is not only a triumph for its creators but also a testament to the evolving landscape of Indian cinema.