By Rashmi Yadav

Here’s speaking with the Nagma Khatoon of 'Gangs of Wasseypur' while she talks about how she landed up in her dream Bollywood role.

She is fierce, she is confident and she is the new kid on the block (She was launched with Oye Lucky Lucky Oye in 2008) but with her recent release (Gangs of Wasseypur) her name has started doing the rounds in the corridors of Bollywood.

So, here’s presenting Richa Chadda, aka Nagma Khatoon, from Gangs of Wasseypur, in a heart-to-heart chat…

When did you start acting? Did you take any formal training?
I started acting from the age of 10 years. I was training with Barry John when I was in Delhi but then I lost touch and when I came to Mumbai, I joined him again.

If not acting, what other career option you’d have chosen? What was plan B?
If not acting, I would have been a dancer or a journalist. I am trained in Kathak and I have reached the Visharad level. I also learnt street dancing, jazz and other freestyle and contemporary dance forms. But due to an accident I was stuck to the bed for about four months. Dancing took a back seat and I was very upset. Then acting happened and it has fulfilled my desires even as a dancer! I am very happy now!

How did you prepare for GOW role?
I am not methodical in my approach, I am spontaneous, I keep it real, just the dialect and the language nuances I did take some help from Manoj Bajpai as he is from Bihar. The other actors and Anurag (Kashyap) did help me a lot too.

What is your family background?
My mom is a professor in Delhi University, my dad is a Management Professional and my younger brother just passed out from college and figuring his head out.

How did GOW happen after 'Oye Lucky Lucky Oye' which released in 2008?
I was doing a small part in Barry John’s play ‘Baghdad Ke Ghulam’ where in Anurag happened to spot me and offered me GOW, I am very lucky to have got such a big opportunity at an early stage.

You were quite a mouthful when it came to expletives? How was the experience? How did you learn those?
Ha! Ha! Yes, those were fun! I had a fun time doing that role, as it was brash, outspoken, in your face and loud. And I feel women should be very out-spoken and strong.

Do you decide on your gut whilst choosing your roles or you took help from industry friends and mentors?
Yes, I do, I take help from Anurag Kashyap, Dibakar Banerjee and others too whom I have worked with. I have been in regular touch with all of them and have good relations maintained.

What are your future plans?
I am currently shooting for ‘Tamanchey’ which is again based in Uttar Pradesh but it’s a rustic love story. Also, I will be working on a short film with Mira Nair, along with that I have also been signed by a big Production House, but that I can’t reveal anything about as it’s at a very beginning stage.

Was it a conscious decision that you’d only be doing off-beat roles?
I don’t want to do any small role, I want to do something good, something meaningful, and hence I am in no hurry and will wait for the right story…something which excites me as an actor.

Do you have any aversions in not doing anything? Are you open to do any kind of roles?
I won’t do nudity, I don’t think I can.