Richa Chadha sought help of psychologists post 'Love Sonia' - Here's Why

Richa Chadha's performance in 'Love Sonia' has already earned her two awards - one in London Indian Film Festival and other at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. The 'Fukrey' actress plays the role of a sex worker in the film. She, along with actors like Manoj Bajpayee, Anupam Kher, Freida Pinto, Mrunal Thakur and Rajkummar Rao, present the reality of the sex trafficking world through 'Love Sonia'.

Richa was hesitant to do the film initially but Tabrez Noorani's decade-long research convinced her to take up the offer. While shooting the film, Richa got to meet several sex-workers and flesh trade survivors. After 2.5 months of shooting in real locations and listening unfathomable real stories, Richa had to undergo therapy to help herself detach from the role. 

“The story of the film was gruelling and emotionally exhausting.To imagine as actors for us to go through this through the process of enacting living the life of these girls momentarily scars us, I can only imagine what would the girls in real life must be going through. For me it wasn’t an easy process. To immerse into the role, live through those emotions, learn those realities and accept them to essay the role of Madhuri took its toll on me. We are lucky as educated people to have access to information and to facilities and I had to seek help of professionals who are psychologists and find therapeutic ways to get myself out of the character to resume my normal life. This character was more than just a role it was a life we had to lead and also pull out of it emotionally once we were through it”. 

'Love Sonia' will hit the screens on September 14.