Actress Richa Chadha says she signs film based on the merit of the story.

Richa is known for featuring in critically acclaimed films like OYE LUCKY! LUCKY OYE!, GANGS OF WASSEYPUR, MASAAN AND SARBJIT. Most of her films even did well at the box office, barring a few like JIA AUR JIA.

What made her choose unusual films?

Richa told IANS here: "I sign films based on their potential, but we have to understand that at times, how a story looks on the paper might not be turned out on the screen in the same way."

"Some stories get lost in the process of execution. My film JIA AUR JIA faced the same problem. Though as an actress, I understand that the film is going to the wrong director, I cannot do much because cinema is a director's medium."

However, she is extremely excited now as the year looks quite promising with two of her films — DAAS DEV and 3 STOREYS — ready for release.

In 3 STOREYS, she is playing a mysterious woman named Leela. The film is set in a 'chawl' in Mumbai. The story revolves around different neighbours living in the same building.

Does she find the neighbourly culture in Mumbai?

Richa said: "Not really, but it used to happen in Delhi more. My Delhi neighbours were very friendly and warm. We used to share food and people knew each other pretty well. We all knew about each other's whereabouts. Now in Mumbai, though my neighbours are friendly, it is not the same as Delhi."

Helmed by debutant director Arjun Mukerjee, the film also features Pulkit Samrat, Sharman Joshi, Renuka Shahane and more.

3 STOREYS is set to release on March 9.

Actress Richa Chadha says she signs film based on the merit of the story.

Richa is known for featuring in critically acclaimed films like OYE LUCKY! LUCKY OYE!, GANGS OF WASSEYPUR, MASAAN AND SARBJIT. Most of her films even did well at the box office, barring a few like JIA AUR JIA.

What made her choose unusual films?

Richa told IANS here: "I sign films based on their potential, but we have to understand that at times, how a story looks on the paper might not be turned out on the screen in the same way."

"Some stories get lost in the process of execution. My film JIA AUR JIA faced the same problem. Though as an actress, I understand that the film is going to the wrong director, I cannot do much because cinema is a director's medium."

However, she is extremely excited now as the year looks quite promising with two of her films — DAAS DEV and 3 STOREYS — ready for release.

In 3 STOREYS, she is playing a mysterious woman named Leela. The film is set in a 'chawl' in Mumbai. The story revolves around different neighbours living in the same building.

Does she find the neighbourly culture in Mumbai?

Richa said: "Not really, but it used to happen in Delhi more. My Delhi neighbours were very friendly and warm. We used to share food and people knew each other pretty well. We all knew about each other's whereabouts. Now in Mumbai, though my neighbours are friendly, it is not the same as Delhi."

Helmed by debutant director Arjun Mukerjee, the film also features Pulkit Samrat, Sharman Joshi, Renuka Shahane and more.

3 STOREYS is set to release on March 9.

Actress Sonam Kapoor feels blessed to have worked on NEERJA — a biopic on Neerja Bhanot, the valiant Pan Am flight attendant who saved a number of lives when terrorists hijacked a plane to Karachi in 1986. She says her bravery continues to move her.

"Even today, the heroism and bravery of Neerja Bhanot continues to move me. It was an honour to play her and pay homage to her indelible memory. #2YearsOfNeerja," Sonam tweeted on Monday as the film completed two years.

Sonam earned critical appreciation for her portrayal as Neerja Bhanot, and got a Special Mention for her performance at the 64th National Film Awards.

The Ram Madhvani-directed film was produced by Fox Star Studios and Bling Unplugged.

Madhvani also posted: "Two years of 'Neerja'. Full of gratitude to Akhil Bhanot, Aneesh Bhanot… Sonam Kapoor, Shabana Azmi, Shekhar Ravjiani and my full NEERJA team and to all the Gods and Gods of cinema."

Atul Kasbekar of Bling Unplugged praised Madhvani's creative vision which helped breathe life to the story.

"Indian cinematic history will in time remember this guy as one of our greatest ever directors. I'm just calling it early… Ram Madhvani," he said.

Singer-composer Ravjiani made his acting debut with NEERJA, and he thanked Madhvani for "making us part of your vision and this labour of love".

"Acting in NEERJA will always be one of the most beautiful and memorable experiences of my life," he said.

Actress Sonam Kapoor feels blessed to have worked on NEERJA — a biopic on Neerja Bhanot, the valiant Pan Am flight attendant who saved a number of lives when terrorists hijacked a plane to Karachi in 1986. She says her bravery continues to move her.

"Even today, the heroism and bravery of Neerja Bhanot continues to move me. It was an honour to play her and pay homage to her indelible memory. #2YearsOfNeerja," Sonam tweeted on Monday as the film completed two years.

Sonam earned critical appreciation for her portrayal as Neerja Bhanot, and got a Special Mention for her performance at the 64th National Film Awards.

The Ram Madhvani-directed film was produced by Fox Star Studios and Bling Unplugged.

Madhvani also posted: "Two years of 'Neerja'. Full of gratitude to Akhil Bhanot, Aneesh Bhanot… Sonam Kapoor, Shabana Azmi, Shekhar Ravjiani and my full NEERJA team and to all the Gods and Gods of cinema."

Atul Kasbekar of Bling Unplugged praised Madhvani's creative vision which helped breathe life to the story.

"Indian cinematic history will in time remember this guy as one of our greatest ever directors. I'm just calling it early… Ram Madhvani," he said.

Singer-composer Ravjiani made his acting debut with NEERJA, and he thanked Madhvani for "making us part of your vision and this labour of love".

"Acting in NEERJA will always be one of the most beautiful and memorable experiences of my life," he said.

Zee Classic is all set to air the sensitive story of a mother – daughter NIL BATTEY SANNATA under its property ‘India’s Finest Films’ on Friday, 23rd February 2018. The film talks about a person's right to dream and change their lives, irrespective of their social status. The cast includes Swara Bhaskar (Chanda Sahay) and Ria Shukla (Apeksha Shivlal Sahay) in lead roles along with Ratna Pathak Shah, Pankaj Tripathi and Sanjay Suri playing pivotal roles.

Set in Agra, NIL BATTEY SANNATA traces the efforts of a resourceful housemaid to give her daughter the life she has never had. Chanda (Swara Bhaskar) juggles multiple jobs to educate Apeksha (Riya Shukla), but the adolescent has zero ambition. After all, she tells her, a maid’s daughter should not aspire to become anything but a maid. The industrious Chanda is horrified at her daughter’s ingratitude, and director Ashwini Iyer Tiwari does not stint from showing the consequences of Apeksha’s thoughtlessness.

Mathematics is one of Apeksha’s weakest subjects, and when an attempt at private coaching fails, Chanda enrolls as a student in her daughter’s government-run school with the encouragement of her supportive employer (Ratna Pathak Shah). Presided over by the delightfully comic principal Shrivastava (Pankaj Tripathi), the school has its share of toppers and dunces (the ‘nil battey sannatas’ of the title). Chanda and Apeksha find themselves competing in the classroom, and Apeksha rebels ever so often.

Will Apeksha be okay for her mother to study in the same class as her? Will she ever be motivated to study and make a big name for herself in the world?

Find out what happens to Apeksha and Chanda, in NIL BATTEY SANNATA on Friday, 23rd February at 10 PM only on Zee Classic.

Zee Classic is all set to air the sensitive story of a mother – daughter NIL BATTEY SANNATA under its property ‘India’s Finest Films’ on Friday, 23rd February 2018. The film talks about a person's right to dream and change their lives, irrespective of their social status. The cast includes Swara Bhaskar (Chanda Sahay) and Ria Shukla (Apeksha Shivlal Sahay) in lead roles along with Ratna Pathak Shah, Pankaj Tripathi and Sanjay Suri playing pivotal roles.

Set in Agra, NIL BATTEY SANNATA traces the efforts of a resourceful housemaid to give her daughter the life she has never had. Chanda (Swara Bhaskar) juggles multiple jobs to educate Apeksha (Riya Shukla), but the adolescent has zero ambition. After all, she tells her, a maid’s daughter should not aspire to become anything but a maid. The industrious Chanda is horrified at her daughter’s ingratitude, and director Ashwini Iyer Tiwari does not stint from showing the consequences of Apeksha’s thoughtlessness.

Mathematics is one of Apeksha’s weakest subjects, and when an attempt at private coaching fails, Chanda enrolls as a student in her daughter’s government-run school with the encouragement of her supportive employer (Ratna Pathak Shah). Presided over by the delightfully comic principal Shrivastava (Pankaj Tripathi), the school has its share of toppers and dunces (the ‘nil battey sannatas’ of the title). Chanda and Apeksha find themselves competing in the classroom, and Apeksha rebels ever so often.

Will Apeksha be okay for her mother to study in the same class as her? Will she ever be motivated to study and make a big name for herself in the world?

Find out what happens to Apeksha and Chanda, in NIL BATTEY SANNATA on Friday, 23rd February at 10 PM only on Zee Classic.