Richa Chadha shares family’s support eased her interfaith marriage with Ali Fazal: ‘When you fall in love, your search has no filters on’

Bollywood power couple Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal are preparing to welcome their first child! The couple, whose love story began on the sets of the movie “Fukrey,” tied the knot in an intimate ceremony under the Special Marriage Act in 2020 during the pandemic. They later celebrated their union with a grander gathering of friends and family in 2022.

Richa and Ali come from different religious backgrounds, but as Richa recently shared in an interview with Galatta India, true love transcends such boundaries. She said, “If you stand firm with your choice and your immediate family is with you and supportive of you, nobody else really matters. And like I said, a human being is a human being first and when you go and fall in love, your search has no filters on. When you fall in love, that’s what it is.”

“When I was ready to discuss this at home with my family, I thought I will just come out,” Chadha added.

Love can blossom in unexpected places, and sometimes those places involve different religious backgrounds. But navigating this new dynamic with your family, especially when your partner’s religion is different from yours, can feel daunting. But it’s important to be ready like Chadha was.

And when you are, here’s how to approach a conversation about your partner from a different religion or caste:

Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal are pregnant with their first baby (Source: Instagram)

Understanding the concerns

Dr Neerja Agarwal, Psychologist and Co-founder of Emoneeds, sheds light on the reasons behind family apprehension: “Stigma around interfaith marriages, especially with Muslim partners,” she explains, “often stems from cultural preservation, historical conflicts, and social identity concerns.”

When talking to your family, this is what to do.

Choose Your Approach: “Use ‘I’ statements,” suggests Dr Agarwal. “For example, ‘I feel hurt when you make negative assumptions about my partner’s religion.'”

Educate and Debunk Myths: Provide information about your partner’s faith to dispel misconceptions.

Acknowledge Concerns: Emphasise understanding their feelings and validate their anxieties.

Seek Support: If they remain unsupportive, consider therapy or support groups for yourself and your partner, said Agarwal. Set boundaries and prioritise your relationship’s well-being.

Prioritise Your Relationship: Focus on shared values and future goals as a couple. Be prepared to distance from unsupportive family if necessary.

Consider Professional Help: Mediation with a neutral third party can facilitate open communication and understanding, Dr Agarwal noted.

Communication and respect are key. By approaching this conversation with an open heart and a willingness to listen, you can bridge the divide and build stronger connections with both your family and your partner.

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