'Masaan' is not riding on my shoulders: Richa Chadha

Mumbai: Actress Richa Chadda may be one of the most popular faces in upcoming film "Masaan" but the actress says content is the real star of the film.

"Masaan is not riding on my shoulders but on the able shoulders of the film. This film is closest to my heart. I find the film spiritual and so I have been on board since the beginning.

"It would be unfair to say that I am carrying the film on my shoulders. The film will work for itself... It's a team effort," Richa told reporters during the trailer launch of the film.

The 26-year-old actress, who made her mark in the industry with "Gangs of Wasseypur" after getting almost unnoticed in "Oye Lucky... Lucky Oye", said the film's director Neeraj Ghaywan has saved a lot of material for his Indian audience.

"We are seeing the trailer for the first time. Neeraj has saved a lot of masala for Indian audiences because it's an Indian film after all," she said.

The movie, an Indo-French production, premiered at this year's Cannes International Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard category. It bagged positive reviews at the festival and also won two awards -- FIPRESCI, International Jury of Film Critics prize and Promising Future prize.

Richa said the character of Devi in the film has been the toughest role of her career so far.

"It is the most different one I have portrayed. Devi is distressed but not guilty. I had spent time in Benares during the making of Gangs of Wasseypur. I read the script once and watched Iranian and French movies to understand the tonality," she said.

Starring Sanjay Mishra, Richa, Vicky Kaushal and Shweta Tripathi in pivotal roles, the Varanasi-set movie revolves around a bunch of characters trying to escape their small town moralities.
Mishra, who plays Richa's father in the movie, said he is finally getting the kind of roles he wanted.

"I was hungry for nine years. Now I am getting work so I am doing it. I am glad to be part of the movie. I have not seen the movie yet. I agreed to do the movie after hearing one line 'Mann kasturi re'. That one line has the essence of the entire movie."

Ghaywan said, "Varun Grover (writer) and I researched content for the film for around a year in Benares... Winning at Cannes has helped us in many ways. Besides the amazing exposure and buzz in India, we have already sold the film in many territories abroad."

Explaining the meaning of "Masaan", Grover said, "Masaan is a slang word in Benares for shamshaan (cremation ground). The film reflects upon the philosophy of the cycle of life and death in many ways."

"Masaan" releases on July 24, 2015.