Following the groundbreaking success of the inaugural Undercurrent Lab—which trained ten women in cinema lighting—Richa Chadha and her husband, Ali, are set to expand the initiative with a new leg of their highly successful initiative for aspiring women professionals in the movie business . After the resounding success of its first edition, Undercurrent Lab is all set to return in 2025 with an expanded focus. The initial workshop was a first-of-its-kind, hands-on training program that selected ten talented women through a rigorous interview process to master the art of lighting for cinema. Over the course of a week-long crash course, these women received direct mentorship from experienced gaffers and cinematographers, gaining invaluable on-field experience by working as trainees on active film sets. Notably, two of the participants earned coveted positions on the nearly all-women crew for Richa Chadha and Ali’s debut production, Girls Will Be Girls.
Building on this success, power couple Richa Chadha and Ali are excited to introduce a new department in filmmaking under the Undercurrent Lab banner, aimed at opening further opportunities for women who aspire to carve out a niche in the film industry. Speaking about the new edition, Richa Chadha shared, “The success of the first edition of Undercurrent Lab has been nothing short of inspiring. We witnessed incredible talent and passion as these women not only learned the technical intricacies of lighting but also embraced the creative spirit of cinema. Their achievements—especially with some joining the nearly all-women crew of Girls Will Be Girls—affirm our commitment to nurturing female talent in every facet of filmmaking."
She further adds, "With Undercurrent Lab 2025, Ali and I are taking a bold step forward. We are introducing a new department that will offer comprehensive training in various aspects of film production, ensuring that more women get the chance to break into this competitive industry. This initiative is about creating opportunities, building confidence, and providing a platform for aspiring women professionals to thrive. I am incredibly excited about this next chapter, and I believe it will be a catalyst for more inclusive and innovative storytelling in cinema.” The second edition of Undercurrent Lab is poised to further bridge the gap in the film industry by providing specialized training and real-world exposure for women eager to pursue their dreams in filmmaking.