Daily Times

After establishing a successful career by being a part of many beloved television shows, actor Riddhi Dogra is now gradually making her presence felt on the big screen, taking on key roles in both films and web series.

In 2023 alone, she starred in two major films: director Atlee’s Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Jawan and Maneesh Sharma’s Tiger 3, featuring Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif. In the same year, she also appeared in the Amazon miniTV series Badtameez Dil and the Prime Video show Mumbai Diaries 26/11.

As she gears up for the release of her upcoming film, Dheeraj Sarna’s The Sabarmati Report, Riddhi also confirmed rumours about a project with Pakistani superstar Fawad Khan. Speaking with Siddharth Kannan, she shared that the movie’s title is Abir Gulaal, which also stars Vaani Kapoor. When asked if she had reservations about working with Fawad, given the potential for controversy due to his nationality, Riddhi admitted she did. “I am proud to be an Indian. Since my childhood, everyone has said that I will move abroad. Apparently, that’s what my kundali (astrological chart) also says. But I don’t want to move.”

“However,” she continued, “wherever a person hails from… I do not think there is division in art. Whenever we watch something, be it a play or a movie, we see only those characters. We don’t ponder what the person’s name is or who all are there in their house. We don’t see all that; we don’t see nationality. So, that was what I thought upon deciding to work in the movie. The only thing I checked was if I was allowed to work with someone of the said nationality. And yes, our country and government give us permission. I did that homework. If that wasn’t the case, I wouldn’t have done the film.”

Directed by Aarti S Bagdi, who helmed Chalti Rahe Zindagi with Seema Biswas, Barkha Sengupta and Rohit Khandelwal, Abir Gulaal is touted as a romance starring Fawad and Vaani in the lead roles. Currently in production, the film is set for release in summer 2025. Meanwhile, Riddhi’s next release The Sabarmati Report, based on the 2002 Godhra train burning incident, also stars Vikrant Massey and Raashii Khanna and will hit theatres this Friday.