Raised him for this day: Ali Fazal's big 2026 means more to Richa than most realise
Actor Richa Chadha has opened up about actor, husband Ali Fazal’s career journey, saying his strong run in 2026 feels especially rewarding after years of being doubted and written off. In an interview with SCREEN, Richa recalled the actor’s early days, when he had little more than a bicycle, and how people even questioned his casting opposite Hollywood star Judi Dench.
Now, with Ali receiving both critical appreciation and box-office success, she said there’s “just pure happiness” in seeing how far he has come. And she remembers just how far back that journey goes. “He lived in a shanty, had just a bicycle,” Richa said, looking back at Ali's early years.
She also recalled what happened when she made their relationship public. According to Richa, two people from the film industry called her and told her, “Iss ladke ka kuchh nahi hoga” (This boy will never make it).
Years later, those words look very different. “From everyone writing him off to almost making fun of him when his film with Judi Dench came out, to see him get both critical love and box office success, I’m very happy,” she said.
Richa has been navigating her own return to acting after motherhood. But she doesn't see 2026 as a year for comparisons.
Asked if his success felt more complicated because of her own slower return to work, she said it was more nuanced than simply being supportive – just not this year. The couple have been together for a long time and married for six years, she pointed out. She's seen Ali through the lean years, which makes watching him now feel particularly personal.
“He’s not only my partner, but also my friend. To see him overcome everything is just a very different feeling,” she said. Then came perhaps the most affectionate line of the interview: “Maine iss din ke liye isko paal pos ke bada kiya hai (I’ve raised him for this very day).”
For Richa, Ali's success also feels a little like a shared victory. She's heard the dismissive comments herself, including around one of his biggest international opportunities.Even Judi Dench wasn't enough to silence the doubters
Ali starred opposite Judi Dench in Stephen Frears' 2017 film Victoria & Abdul. It was a significant opportunity, but Richa remembers that some people weren't celebrating it.
“I can tell you that two people had said about that film, 'How did he get this opportunity?',” she said.
For her, simply getting the role wasn't the end of the challenge. Holding your own opposite someone of Dench's stature was another matter altogether. “To hold your own in front of Judi Dench is very hard,” Richa said. Photo: Movie poster/Prime Video
Ali has since built a career across Hindi cinema and international projects, but his latest phase has brought a different kind of attention. Mirzapur: The Movie has also added commercial heft to the conversation around his recent run.
While Ali was last seen in Netflix's Lust Stories 3, Richa is currently shooting for a Netflix India show and is also preparing to launch her travel series Musafiri on YouTube on September 25.
Written and narrated by Richa, the first season takes her through Mumbai's culture, history and architecture. The project isn't exactly a sudden idea either. She has previously said she spent around 12 years researching it before finally bringing it to the screen.- EndsPublished By: Anisha RaoPublished On: Sep 24, 2026 17:13 ISTALSO READ | Mirzapur The Movie collects Rs 5 crore on Day 17, tops Rs 300 crore worldwide
