Richa Chadha is getting widespread acclaim for her role as Mallikajaan's foster daughter Lajjo in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's maiden Netflix series, Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar. This ambitious period drama is an extraordinary addition to her 16-year filmography, which already boasts a plethora of diverse and critically praised films, including Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-Leela, Masaan, Fukrey, Love Sonia, and Panga. Adding further diversity to her filmography, the actress is now set to play a dancer in her next film. 

Peepingmoon.com has exclusively learned that Richa Chadha will next star in a musical comedy titled Pinky Promise. It's the first project she will begin shooting after her maternity break. The actress is supposed to take a 3-month hiatus after delivering a baby in July and will return to work only towards the end of the year. The project is Richa and her husband Ali Fazal’s own production venture under their Pushing Buttons Studios, and is scheduled to go on floors at the end of October 2024. 

Amitosh Nagpal, known for writing Hindi Medium, Gulaab Gang, Aadhaar, and Sardar Ka Grandson, has penned the script, while the director is yet to be finalized. Pinky Promise is set in a small hillock town in Himachal Pradesh and centers around a spirited dancer (Richa) and a talented singer (not yet cast) from a rival Bhajan-Mandli who find themselves entangled in a forbidden love. “Despite their feuding families, they defy expectations and embark on a joyous musical journey, creating a modern-day Romeo and Juliet tale with a heartwarming and happily-ever-after twist,” as per the official longline of the movie. 

Pinky Promise is one of the six projects Pushing Buttons Studios announced early this year. The company is also developing a crime thriller with Loop Lapeta director Akash Bhatia, a fantasy drama by Kamal Swaroop, an adult animation by Ashutosh Pathak, and a documentary delving into the lives of Chadha and Fazal and the whirlwind surrounding their wedding. The slate also includes Shuchi Talati’s Girls Will Be Girls, which premiered at Sundance in January, winning the audience choice award for best film and the jury award for best actor.