Zoya akhtar on Suhana khan and khushi kapoor being trolled after The Archies: 'the audience is harsh with certain newcomers...'

Zoya Akhtar on Archies trolling

Filmmaker Zoya Akhtar recently opened up about the online trolling faced by the young cast of her 2023 film The Archies, expressing her strong sense of responsibility towards the actors and their experience.

During a conversation with Komal Nahta on her Game Changers podcast, the ZNMD director spoke candidly about the challenges her cast members faced and her feelings of accountability for their performances, especially as the film garnered mixed reviews.

When asked if the audience is often too harsh with newcomers, Zoya Akhtar acknowledged that some first-time actors, particularly those from well-known families, tend to be subjected to more intense scrutiny.

"I think the audience is harsh with certain newcomers, not with all newcomers," she remarked.

This sentiment was echoed by Khushi Kapoor, who in a recent interview with the Indian Express, admitted that while she believed The Archies was aimed at a younger audience, the film’s marketing strategy could have been clearer.

She suggested that the film’s focus and target demographic should have been better defined, as those under 16 seemed to enjoy it the most.

“In fact, the people who enjoyed it the most were the ones who were below the age of 16. Plus, I feel like everything doesn’t have to be made for everyone,” she shared.

The Archies, a Netflix adaptation of the iconic comic series, was highly anticipated for the debut of its star-studded young cast, which included Agastya Nanda, the grandson of Amitabh Bachchan; Suhana Khan, the daughter of Shah Rukh Khan; and Khushi Kapoor, the younger daughter of the late Sridevi. Despite the excitement surrounding their roles, the three newcomers faced significant criticism online for their performances, which sparked a wave of discussion among audiences and critics alike.

Despite the backlash, Akhtar maintained that she felt deeply responsible for what her cast members went through, particularly because she had played an instrumental role in selecting them for the film.

She explained, "I felt bad when this happened because they listened to me. I auditioned them, I picked them, gave them roles, and they said yes. I workshopped them, shot them, and I okayed the take. So it's me. They did what I asked them to do."

Akhtar also revealed that she was troubled by the bullying that seemed to follow the actors after the film’s release, admitting it was unpleasant to see them attacked in such a manner. "I didn't like the fact that they were almost being bullied. It wasn't nice. It's my responsibility," she added, emphasising that the entire experience weighed heavily on her as a director.

The Archies, which was released on Netflix on November 22, 2023, marked the beginning of the young actors’ careers in the film industry, and despite the challenges they faced, it also gave them a significant platform to showcase their talent.

The other cast members of the film included Mihir Ahuja, Dot, Vedang Raina, and Yuvraj Menda. The film, set in the 1960s, reimagines the beloved characters from the comic strip in a modern-day Indian context.

The Archies may have faced its share of challenges, but it undoubtedly marked an important step in the careers of its young stars, with Zoya Akhtar standing by them every step of the way.