Mumbai. Actress and entrepreneur Rhea Chakraborty has spoken in detail for the first time about how her professional life was impacted after 2020. She mentioned that she was not getting new projects during that period, which led her to decide to start a new business with her brother, Showik Chakraborty. The duo also shared that while working with a family member offers a sense of trust, it also comes with its own unique set of challenges.
During a conversation on Neha Dhupia and Angad Bedi’s YouTube chat show ‘Double Date,’ Rhea stated that balancing personal and professional relationships while working with a sibling is not easy. According to her, if there is already some underlying tension regarding a domestic issue, even a minor disagreement at the office can seem significant.
Frequent disagreements in the early days
Rhea revealed that in the initial days of the business, the two often had differences of opinion. She jokingly mentioned that Showik would sometimes even threaten to leave home. However, their rapport improved once Showik started living separately. Rhea noted that having personal space after working together all day helped strengthen their relationship.
Trust: The biggest advantage of working with family
Rhea acknowledged that despite the challenges, the greatest benefit of working with family is mutual trust. She mentioned that Showik now serves as the CEO of their company, ‘Chapter 2’, while she handles key functions like compliance and accounts. Watching Showik take on a leadership role as his elder sister was a unique experience for her.
Initially Considered Different Names for the Brand
During the conversation, Rhea revealed that they had considered several options before finalizing the company’s name. She shared that at one point, she wanted to name the brand ‘Chudail Ka Badla’ (Witch’s Revenge) and had even thought about designing merchandise for it. They also seriously considered the name ‘Black Sheep,’ as both felt alienated from society at the time.
Ultimately, they chose the name ‘Chapter 2,’ symbolizing a fresh start and a mindset of moving forward in their lives.
‘We Had No Other Option’
Showik Chakraborty stated that the decision to start the business was driven by circumstances. According to him, Rhea’s acting career was facing uncertainty at the time, while he, despite completing his MBA, was not finding the opportunities he desired. He noted that they had no better alternative than to start a new venture.
Rhea acknowledged that after 2020, she was not being signed for films or other projects. Meanwhile, Showik mentioned that the year he was arrested was the same year he had enrolled in his MBA program, where he went on to score 97 percent. He remarked that his life took a rapid and unexpected turn during that period.
The Journey from a Difficult Phase to a New Beginning
The chat show conversation revealed that, despite personal and professional challenges, Rhea and Showik chose to embark on a new beginning together. Both attribute their ability to overcome difficult times to mutual trust, cooperation, and a clear division of responsibilities.
