Chitrangda Singh, recently featured in Housefull 5, had an open conversation with SCREEN, reflecting on her two-decade-long journey in Bollywood. She spoke about her unique path in the film industry, a nine-year hiatus, significant roles she missed out on, and how personal struggles influenced the course of her career.
Chitrangda Singh opens up about major film roles she turned down including Gangster and Tanu Weds Manu; says, “I have made those mistakes”
Reflecting on her debut in Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi and how quickly time has passed, Chitrangda said, “It’s been a very quick 20 years. When I look back, I feel like I have gotten far more than I expected. I don’t think I was a very ambitious person. I didn’t think I was going to go places. I was quite happy that I would get married and just have a good time; I never had a vision for myself. I feel that everything has been more than I expected. In 20 years, there have been 9 years of breaks in between. 11 years of working and people have not forgotten me, so I feel grateful.”
When asked if a film like Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi could be made in today’s time, Chitrangda voiced her desire for more impactful storytelling: “I wish films like Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi get made because cinema should not just be for entertainment alone. There are films to entertain, and then there should be films about certain matters which need to go on record as cinema history. I wish we did more films like that.”
Speaking about her extended sabbatical from acting, Chitrangda shared the personal challenges behind her absence from the screen: “The first seven years of break were because of my personal life, my commitment to that, and I had a son. I came back, and then I took another two-year break because I was going through a rough patch in my personal life again. In between that also I did not have the kind of work that I was looking for coming my way, so I decided to not be around because I was also going through my emotional ups and downs and I didn’t want to do stuff that I won’t be happy doing. So there was a rollercoaster of life going on. So yes, I did not do as much work as I probably would have wanted to do.”
Chitrangda also spoke candidly about the major film opportunities she missed and how those choices still stay with her. “I have made those mistakes. I said no to Anurag Basu’s Gangster. I refused Tanu Weds Manu. In Mangal Pandey, I said no to the role that Ameesha Patel played. There was one more that I am forgetting, and then there was Chalte Chalte that starred Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukerji, which I wasn’t around for at all. They had run into some trouble and wanted to desperately cast someone. SRK had told me this. Saeed Mirza had loved my work, and they were looking for me. Juhi Chawla’s brother Bobby was looking for my number. I had worked with SRK on an ad film when he had told me all this.”
Despite the twists and turns in her journey, Chitrangda’s presence and influence in the industry have remained strong. She remains committed to authentic storytelling and seeks out roles with depth and meaning. On the professional front, she revealed that she’s currently working on another commercial film and plans to announce a new project this coming September.
Also Read : Housefull 5 Box Office: Collects Rs. 40 crores+ in Week 2, all set to enter Rs. 200 Crore Club
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