Richa Pallod

Richa made her entry into films with a minute role as a child artiste in the film Lamhe (1991) and then Pardes (1997). She started modelling at the age of 16, has featured in over five hundred commercials and appeared in Falguni Pathak's music videos "Yaad Piya Ki Aane Lagi" and "Piya Se Mil Ke Aaye Nain".[1] Richa made her film debut in the Telugu film, Nuvve Kavali (2000), opposite Tarun, whom she had previously appeared with in a commercial shot by Rajiv Menon. The film, which portrayed love between two childhood friends in college, became a large commercial success and won favourable reviews with claims that Richa "did not seem like a debutant" in her role.[2] Furthermore the role led to Richa securing the Filmfare Best Telugu Actress Award for 2000.[3][4]

She made her debut in Tamil cinema, playing the lead role opposite Vijay in Shajahan. The film was really appreciated by critics and Richa's performance was noted to have "done little good".[5] Her second Tamil film was Alli Arjuna, directed by noted film maker Saran featuring Manoj Bharathiraja. Richa played the role of an independent girl being romantically pursued by Manoj, but once again received unfavourable reviews with reviewers citing that "you do not feel for Richa".[6]

Her first Hindi film as a senior artiste was opposite Fardeen Khan in Kuch Tum Kaho Kuch Hum Kahein, with the film becoming a failure. Richa claimed that the lack of promotion of the project might have been the reason for the dull response towards the film. Her subsequent Hindi films within the next two years, which includes two films opposite actor Rakesh Bapat, were low-budget projects and did not fare well at the box office. Similarly, her projects in Kannada; Cheppale and Jootata, opposite Sameer Dattani also failed commercially, with reviews criticising Richa's performance in the latter film.[7] Richa went on to appear in Yashraj Films' Neal 'N' Nikki, featuring Uday Chopra and Tanisha, playing the role of Sweety.[8][9] After several of her previous ventures failed to succeed, Richa was forced to appear in a supporting role in Unakkum Enakkum.[10]

Richa went on to claim that poor public relations and lack of promotion led to her disappearance from films before returning in 2009, with her first appearance in a Malayalam film in the Mammootty starrer, Daddy Cool. Playing the role of Annie Simon, mother of an eight-year-old, her role won critical acclaim and the film was a commercial success.[11][12] In 2010 she appeared in the Telugu language film, Inkosaari alongside Raja and Manjari Phadnis. However the film failed to succeed commercially as it was released alongside the hit film, Ye Maaya Chesaave, which went on to attract more viewers.[13] Towards the end of her career as a lead actress, Richa featured in the making of two low-budget unreleased Tamil films, Nalvaravu and Kadhal Kalvan. In 2011, she was chosen to be one of the Hindi-dubbing artists for the Hindi dubbed version of the Hollywood film, X-Men: First Class, when it was released in theatres, shortly after its North American release, dubbing for Rose Byrne's role as Moira MacTaggert.[14]

Richa took a sabbatical from acting for a few years after her wedding, before appearing in Yagavarayinum Naa Kaakka / Malupu(2015), in a supporting role.[15]

• Richa Pallod at IMDb