4 Things Zoya Akhtar Said In Defense Of ‘The Archies’, Looks Like Another KJo In Making

 

The Archies: Talent, Privilege, and the Buzz

The Archies, a film that promised a vibrant Bollywood take on the classic comic book characters, has landed with a thud. While it’s sparking conversations, they’re not all about catchy tunes and teenage drama. Instead, the film has ignited a fiery debate about privilege, nepotism, and the realities of Bollywood.

On one side, there’s confusion. Irrfan Khan’s son, Babil, won hearts in his film debut. No one batted an eye about him being a star kid. But when Suhana Khan (daughter of Shah Rukh Khan), Khushi Kapoor (daughter of Boney Kapoor), and Agastya Nanda (grandson of Amitabh Bachchan) grace the screen in The Archies, it’s a different story. Comparisons fly, harsh words sting, and the ugly underbelly of nepotism rears its head.

The truth is, The Archies isn’t Zoya Akhtar’s finest work. Critics point out flaws, and audiences find themselves wanting more. The film becomes a canvas for dissecting the issue of privilege in the film industry. Those born into Bollywood families have access, connections, and a head start. But is that enough?

She has been giving interviews where these topics are being brought up. Here are Zoya’s insights:

“Suhana Khan being in my film doesn’t change anyone’s life”

In an interview with Juggernaut and Netflix, she was asked about her stance on nepotism or whether she is guilty of promoting the same, she said, “I think it (the debate) is about privilege, access, and social capital. I completely understand having anger or frustration at the fact that you do not have the access some people get so easily. That is a conversation to be had. Everyone needs to have the same kind of education, job opportunities, et al. But when you turn around and say Suhana Khan shouldn’t be in my film, it’s banal because it’s not going to change your life whether she’s in my film or not. You have to talk about what is going to change your life.”

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Also Read: 5 Things People Hated About ‘The Archies’ That Make It Zoya’s Weakest Movie So Far

“Who are you to tell me what to do with my money?”

She further explained her way of looking at nepotism; “Nepotism is when I take public money or someone else’s money and favour my friends and family. Nepotism cannot be when I take my own money! Who are you to tell me what to do with my money? It’s my money! If tomorrow I want to spend my money on my niece, it’s my problem. At the end of the day, if a director or an actor gets another job, it is solely on the audiences. Viewers decide if they want to see them or not,” the filmmaker concluded.

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Are You Saying I Can’t Choose My Profession, Asks Zoya Akhtar

Zoya firmly believes that she has every right to follow whatever she wants. She said, “My dad came from nowhere and made a life for himself. I was born and bred in the industry, and I have every right to follow whatever I want to do. As part of his network and what he made, I know those people. What am I going to do, disown my dad because I want to be a filmmaker? Are you saying I can’t choose my profession? It makes no sense. The actual problem is something else, and this is just like beating a dead horse… it’s not going to do anything. If every kid born into the film industry never worked in cinema, it’s still not going to change your life.”

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Also Read: Zoya Akhtar’s Weakest Movie: Suhana Khan-Khushi Kapoor’s ‘The Archies’ Opens To Mixed Reviews

It took me seven years to get a movie made, says Zoya

In another interview with India Today, she went on to share how her filmmaking journey has panned out among other things. 

“For me it’s a very weird position. It took me seven years to get a movie made and i’m born in the lap of the industry. I had access to everybody but nobody did my film. My friends that came from outside – Reema Kagti, Ruchi Narayan, Anurag Kashayap – everyone made a movie before me. Everybody’s journey is different. I’m from the industry. It took me a really long time. 

For someone who is from outside, it happens for them with a certain amount of struggle. You take an Aishwarya Rai or A Deepika Padukone – they got a break like this because they are gorgeous. That’s a genetic advantage, should they be abusing it. I mean that’s not merit, the way they look got them a break because they looked great. How do you quantify it?”

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“If I am a barber, and I have a shop, am I going to leave it to my son or am I going to leave it to the best barber in the city? My son may inherit it but he has to cut hair properly or else he’s going to shut shop. That’s the bottom line,” she concluded.

Apart from Suhana Khan, Khushi Kapoor and Agastya Nanda, The Archies also features non-star kids making their debut which includes Mihir Ahuja, Vedang Raina, Yuvraj Menda, and Dot. 

The film was released on Netflix on December 7.