When Richa Chadha’s mother thought Ali Fazal was a Pakistani actor and panicked, believing he was already married with two kids

When Richa Chadha’s mother thought Ali Fazal was a Pakistani actor and asked her not to marry him, believing he was already married with two kids

Richa Chadha’s mother was momentarily alarmed when the actor first told her about dating Ali Fazal, all because of a classic case of mistaken identity. In a recent interview, Richa opened up about how her mother confused Ali Fazal with Pakistani actor Ali Zafar, leading to a brief but dramatic misunderstanding at home.

Richa and Ali met on the sets of Fukrey and gradually grew close, eventually beginning a relationship that has now spanned more than a decade. Speaking on the All About Eve podcast, Richa recalled how she decided to inform her mother during the early days of their romance, unaware that the similarity in names would cause unnecessary panic.

Explaining the confusion, Richa said, “Ali plays this character called Zafar in Fukrey. His real name is Ali Fazal. There’s another actor called Ali Zafar so a lot of people just confuse the names.” Ali Zafar, for the unversed, is a Pakistani actor and musician who has worked in Hindi films such as Mere Brother Ki Dulhan and Dear Zindagi.

The mix-up led Richa’s mother to do some quick online research, but unfortunately, she ended up looking up the wrong Ali. Richa shared how the situation escalated almost immediately. “When I first told my mom that I am starting to date this guy, she called me very alarmed. She said, ‘I don’t know if you know that he is married and he has two kids’,” Richa recalled.

Also Read: Madhuri Dixit and husband Dr Shriram Nene sell Juhu apartment for Rs 3.9 crore

Caught completely off guard, Richa said her reaction was instant disbelief. “I was like, ‘what?!’ She’s like, ‘yeah, he is from Lahore, he is married and he has two kids’. I said, ‘no, it’s not that guy’,” she added, laughing about the incident in hindsight.

The confusion was finally put to rest when Richa’s mother met Ali Fazal in person. The alarm quickly turned into approval. Richa fondly remembered her mother’s reaction after the meeting, saying she remarked, “bada sundar hai” (he is very handsome).

Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal eventually tied the knot under the Special Marriage Act in 2020, opting for a quiet and legal ceremony during the pandemic. The couple later celebrated their marriage with a grand wedding celebration in October 2022. Speaking about their court wedding, Richa said, “We got married under the Special Marriage Act, the family court is right around the corner. And it was super peaceful.”

Adding another personal touch to their love story, the couple also documented their wedding journey in a film titled RiAlity. The documentary offers an intimate glimpse into their relationship, showcasing the challenges they faced, their shared dreams, and the path that led them to their much-celebrated union.