Cinema VinesBollywood actor Ali Fazal is riding a wave of success this year, with the hit film Mirzapur: The Movie and recent roles in Prime Video’s crime series Raakh and Shakun Batra’s segment of Lust Stories 3. In a candid chat with SCREEN, his wife Richa Chadha reflected on his journey from humble beginnings to his current acclaim, noting that the hard work he has put in over the years has finally paid off.
Chadha recalled the early days when Fazal lived in a shanty and rode a bicycle, describing how she has watched him rise from those struggles to become a celebrated actor. She added that the couple has been together for six years and that seeing him achieve what he has in 2026 brings her “pure happiness.” She also said, “I feel like I’ve nurtured and raised him for this very day,” highlighting the deep bond they share as partners and friends.
The actress admitted that people had warned her that a relationship with Fazal would not benefit her career, with industry insiders telling her, “Iss ladke ka kuchh nahi hoga” (This boy won’t amount to anything). Despite the doubts, Fazal’s career has flourished, notably with his role in the 2017 Hollywood film Victoria & Abdul opposite Judi Dench. Richa praised his performance, saying that standing in front of an actress of Judi Dench’s stature is difficult, yet he handled it beautifully.
Chadha and Fazal first met on the set of their 2012 film Fukrey, where a friendship blossomed into romance. The couple made their relationship public in 2017 and legally married in 2020 under the Special Marriage Act. They celebrated their wedding with festivities in Delhi, Lucknow and Mumbai in 2022. In 2024, the pair welcomed their first child, a daughter named Zuneyra Ida Fazal.
