19 February,2026 08:32 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Richa Chadha with French President
French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron met some of India's top filmmakers and actors in Mumbai. The French President was on a three-day official visit to India, and the meeting discussed an exchange of ideas regarding cinema. However, Richa Chadha's presence at the meeting sparked criticism on social media, with some users targeting her over her political views and outspoken opinions. She has now given a befitting reply to them.
Among those present were Anil Kapoor, Zoya Akhtar, and Manoj Bajpayee, along with other members of the film fraternity. However, Richa's presence sparked criticism. Amid the backlash, the actress took to social media to address the trolls with an indirect yet sharp message.
It read, "If someone being invited to meet someone else is giving you loose motions out of envy, please remember that jealousy is the first sign of stagnation. Do better. Focus on your own growth, and you'll see how others don't matter, including some opinionated movie star."
During an interaction with Hindustan Times, Richa revealed that her interaction during the recent Indo-French meeting revolved around expanding opportunities for collaborative cinema between the two nations.
For those unversed, Neeraj Ghaywan's Masaan (2015) and Richa Chadha's Girls Will Be Girls (2024) are among the notable Indo-French co-productions.
Meanwhile, Bajpayee was also invited by the Consulate General of France in Mumbai to be part of the interaction. He walked away touched by the French President's keen interest in the arts. He shared with mid-day, "We talked about the crisis that independent cinema is facing in our country, and how the collaboration can help its growth. France is known for pursuing storytelling in its purest form. When you have a country like this, you know every suggestion is being paid heed to."
On the work front, the actress was last seen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Heeramandi. She also dabbled in production with her venture Girls Will Be Girls, which was screened at international festivals. While she has not signed many projects after embracing motherhood, one of her yet-to-be-released projects includes Abhi Toh Party Shuru Hui Hai.
