Introduction
The next Indian Hindi-language teen musical comedy film “The Archies” is directed by Zoya Akhtar and produced by Tiger Baby Productions. Agastya Nanda, Khushi Kapoor, Suhana Khan, Vedang Raina, Mihir Ahuja, Aditi Saigal, and Yuvraj Menda are among the actors who appear in the film. Archie and the gang must deal with friendship, romance, and Riverdale’s future when developers attempt to demolish a well-liked park in the 1960s Indian setting of the film. The movie will debut on Netflix on December 7, 2023.
Film Cast
The film’s cast includes several well-known kids and has garnered media attention. With this film, Suhana Khan, the Bollywood celebrity Shah Rukh Khan’s daughter, makes her acting debut. The cast also includes Agastya Nanda, the grandson of Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan, and Khushi Kapoor, the late actress Sridevi’s daughter and producer Boney Kapoor’s daughter.
“The Archies” Synopsis
“The Archies,” set in the fictional Anglo-Indian community of Riverdale in 1964 India, the movie follows Archie, Betty, Ronnie, Reggie, Jughead, Ethel, Dilton, Moose, and Midge as they endeavor to save the historic “Green Park” from destruction. The film stars Agastya Nanda as Archibald “Archie” Andrews, Khushi Kapoor as Elizabeth “Betty” Cooper, Suhana Khan as Veronica Lodge, and other talented newcomers. The storyline revolves around the characters’ growth into adulthood, romantic involvement, and efforts to preserve their community against modernization.
Nepotism in Bollywood
The movie has come under fire for encouraging nepotism and being dominated by star kids. Still, some have defended the movie, saying that the actors were chosen for the part purely because of their talent and not because of their heritage. In a tweet, actor Gulshan Devaiah claimed that the nepotism controversy was merely a pretext used by a few to settle personal grudges. Nepotism is hardly the biggest issue facing the film industry, he continued, even though it is harsh and unjust.
Additionally, the film’s director, Zoya Akhtar, has defended the film, stating that she would have cast any child for “The Archies” and that just three of the seven children on the poster had been chosen by the media. She continued by saying that the movie wasn’t about star kids but rather a group of talented and committed young actors.
We think the issue of Nepotism in Bollywood is a complex one. Many celebrity offspring indeed have an easier time getting into the business because of their family ties, but many of them are also gifted and diligent. Saying that all-star youngsters are untalented and undeserving of their achievement is an unfair generalization.
Need for More Inclusivity
It is also true that, because of the dearth of opportunities and the prevalence of star kids, many talented actors from non-film backgrounds find it difficult to succeed in Bollywood. To address this problem, the film industry needs to be more hospitable and receptive to fresh talent. Even Bollywood production houses and studios should promote new talent from diverse backgrounds thereby supporting the creation of a level playing field for new talent in Bollywood and moving towards a more open and inclusive culture.
Conclusion
Regarding “The Archies,” we think the film should be evaluated on its own merits rather than the character’s past. Regardless of the cast, a good film should be recognized for its artistic merits. If the movie is subpar, then its flaws should be pointed out regardless of the cast.
Finally, there is a lot of buzz surrounding the highly anticipated film “The Archies” and its A-list cast. The movie should be judged on its own merits rather than the past of the actors in it even though Nepotism in Bollywood is a complex subject.
Watch the official trailer of “The Archies” here: