Shabana Azmi Reveals Javed Akhtar Suggested 'Jwala Ali' As A Name for Richa Chadha-Ali Fazal’s Baby Girl

Ali Fazal and Richa Chadha joyfully welcomed their baby girl on July 16. Shortly after her birth, actors Shabana Azmi, Urmila Matondkar, Tanvi Azmi, and Dia Mirza visited the new parents, and photos of their visit quickly went viral on social media.

Reflecting on the experience, Shabana Azmi shared details of the visit in a recent conversation, revealing that her husband, Javed Akhtar, suggested the name ‘Jwala Ali’ for the newborn, inspired by Richa’s fiery personality. However, the couple had already chosen a beautiful name for their daughter, “Javed suggested they name her Jwala Ali. When I asked him why, he said Richa herself is such a firebrand, her daughter should have an equivalent name. But they have given her a beautiful name already,’ revealed Shabana Azmi.

Shabana also mentioned that Richa is part of a close-knit group called ‘Dher Sara Pyaar,’ which includes herself, Tanvi, Urmila, Dia, Vidya Balan, and Konkona Sensharma. Although some members were unable to attend, the visit felt like a family gathering filled with love and joy. Shabana Azmi recalled during an interview with Hindustan Times,”On that day, (actors) Sandhya Mridul, Konkona Sensharma and Vidya Balan were missing, as they weren’t in town. We wanted to have a baby shower for Richa, but that couldn’t happen. So, this was just a visit to see the child. This group is like a family. The joys that you get with family is what you get in this group.”

Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal, who tied the knot during the pandemic, later hosted a grand reception in 2022 for their family and friends. Now, two years later, they are celebrating the arrival of their daughter, expressing their happiness in a joint statement, “We are tickled pink with joy to announce the arrival of a healthy baby girl on 16.7.24.”

In a recent interview with HT City, Richa opened up about her aspirations for their child’s upbringing. She shared her vision for the values and qualities she hoped to instill in their little one, emphasizing the importance of nurturing a well-rounded character.

“We have had very free upbringings where no restrictions were placed on us by our parents. So, I think we will do the same. We will also surely try to inculcate the spirit of curiosity in the child,” she said.