Actor Richa Chadha recently shared her experience of meeting French President Emmanuel Macron during his three-day visit to India, calling the interaction both inspiring and meaningful. The meeting took place ahead of the inauguration of the India–France Year of Innovation 2026, where Macron engaged with prominent Indian film personalities to discuss cinema and cross-cultural collaboration.
Richa Chadha described the exchange as an important step toward deepening creative partnerships between India and France. She highlighted how Indo-French collaborations have already contributed to powerful storytelling, referencing films like Masaan as examples of what joint efforts can achieve. According to her, stronger cooperation between the two nations can help independent cinema gain broader international visibility and unlock new storytelling opportunities.
She also pointed to recent films such as Girls Will Be Girls and All We Imagine as Light as proof that sustained partnerships between Indian and French filmmakers are yielding strong artistic results. Richa noted that both countries already share a solid foundation in co-producing films and that discussions focused on expanding these ties further.
Sharing her impression of President Macron, Richa praised his proactive approach during the conversation. She observed that he was not merely listening to concerns but actively considering solutions, which stood out to her as a refreshing quality in a global leader.
Touching upon challenges faced by Indo-French projects like Agra, despite international recognition at Cannes, she highlighted the evolving nature of film distribution. With traditional theatre attendance changing worldwide, Richa stressed the need for flexible and adaptive distribution models to ensure meaningful reach for globally celebrated films.
