Critical and commercial success (2016–present)
In January 2016, Chadha appeared as a journalist in the social-drama Chalk n Duster. She later appeared in Sarbjit, a biographical-drama film based upon the life of Sarabjit Singh. She portrayed the role of Sukhpreet, and shared screen alongside Aishwarya Rai and Randeep Hooda. Her performance in the film earned her a second nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.
In 2017, Richa acted in an Indian web-series Inside Edge, playing the lead character of a struggling actress. The series was positively received by both critics and audience. In the same year, Jia Aur Jia was released. The film received unfavorable reviews from critics and did not perform well at box office too. After that, she reprised her role as Bholi Punjaban in Fukrey Returns, a sequel to 2013 film Fukrey.
Richa Chadha worked in Sudhir Mishra's version of the Devdas saga, entitled Aur Devdas as Paro. Her much-delayed film with Pooja Bhatt, Cabaret, released on 9 January 2019. Chadha also worked for David Womark's Indo-American production Love Sonia. The film had its world premiere at the London Indian Film Festival on 21 June 2018. The film was released in India on 14 September 2018. Her two films, Section 375, a courtroom drama produced by Kumar Mangat Pathak, Abhishek Pathak and directed by Ajay Bahl, co-starring Akshaye Khanna was released on 13 September 2019. And her second film, Panga, directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari with Kangana Ranaut as main lead, was released on 24 January 2020. The film earned her a third nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress. She also starred in the web-film, Lahore Confidential, a ZEE5 spy thriller film, which included a cross-border love story for RAW Agent Ananya, played by Chadha. It released on 11 December 2020. Her next theatrical release, Shakeela released on 25 December 2020. In 2021, she started her own film production company named Pushing Buttons Studios with Ali Fazal.
In 2024, Chadha played a courtesan, Lajjo, in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's series Heeramandi. Shomini Sen of WION noted, "Richa Chadha in her limited screen time creates an impact with her tragic character." Shubhra Gupta stated that "she brings a 'thaska' to the proceedings, but is confined to a brief part". Her upcoming film includes Anubhav Sinha’s Abhi Toh Party Shuru Hui Hai.
