Mumbai, Oct 10 : Actress Richa Chadha, celebrated for her performance in ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’, has voiced strong concerns over the difficulties faced by independent and meaningful films in Indian cinema.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, Richa highlighted how small budget and socially relevant films struggle to secure enough screens, while big commercial movies dominate theatres, often leaving smaller films to face financial losses despite global recognition and awards.
Her comments came after the release of ‘Homebound’, a film backed by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions, which reportedly saw low footfall in theatres. A user on X expressed frustration:
“So many people wanted to watch it, but it wasn’t shown in proper theatres. If a producer can’t sell India’s official Oscar entry with great reviews, that’s a skill issue.”
Richa pointed out that even with a big production house behind it, ‘Homebound’ got more shows than smaller films like her earlier movie ‘Masaan’, which often struggled to secure any screenings.
“Each screen and each show costs money. Exhibitors have to consider whether there are enough people in the hall to even buy samosas,” she explained.
The actress further criticized high ticket prices, which she said are discouraging audiences from watching indie films. Affordable single-screen theatres, she noted, have nearly disappeared, limiting access for smaller films.
Richa also stressed the long-term financial impact on producers:
“The producer ends up facing losses long after the awards are over. Actors may gain credibility, but the person who put in the money suffers.”
Concluding her post, Richa summed up the major obstacles for independent cinema:
“What’s killing independent films? Exorbitant ticket prices, the P&A (print and advertising) bottleneck, fewer screens, and the monopoly of a few people controlling the distribution.”
Her remarks underscore the ongoing challenges that indie films face in India, calling attention to structural issues in ticket pricing, distribution, and screen allocation that hinder meaningful cinema from reaching audiences.