Zoya A reacts to criticism against The Archies

https://www.indiaforums.com/article/zoya-akhtar-advocates-for-inclusive-indian-representation-amid-the-archies-teaser-backlash_197905

https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/zoya-akhtar-the-archies-netflix-india-criticism-suhana-khan-agastya-nanda-khushi-kapoor-101687491805567.html

Zoya is such a disappointment.

At least they look like teenagers and school kid and should only act in similar roles.. Not suitable as heroine.. So is other star kids.. 

“Why do you think that? They're all Indian. This is kind of reverse (racism). Are you saying fair Indians are not Indians? How do we define what an Indian looks like? It could be Hrithik Roshan, it could be Mr. Rajinikanth, it could be Diljit Dosanjh, it could be Mary Kom. That's the beauty of India. There are a lot of Indians that are light-skinned,” said Zoya in an interview to Mid-Day at TUDUM.

First of all I think the criticism was more about the overall look and vibe of the teaser. She has basically made a very Americanized movie (based on the teaser) with Indian actors. 

Second of all, her cast isn’t diverse. She’s using Hrithik, Rajnkanth, Diljit, and Mary Kom as examples of diversity of India and that’s all good, but then her cast basically all look the same, specially the boys. I couldn’t tell them apart 🤷🏽‍♀️.  

Third of all, “reverse racism” is a problematic phrase and someone like Zoya should know better. An individual white skinned person may feel treated differently at a specific situation due to their skin color, but as a whole being white, or white skinned, does not impede their chances and opportunities in life. In a society that to this day feels the after effects of colonialism for her to suddenly equate criticism about her cast’s overall looks to prejudices that dark toned individuals face, specially in a very visual medium like Bollywood, was just stupid.   

All that being said, her answer about wanting to keep the essence of Archie’s intact made sense. She should have stuck to that and elaborated on it instead of trying to act like she’s being diverse and representative of all of India. She’s not.   

But her story was set  in 1960 and people were eating burgers and fries back then? .😳

This is such a lousy defense from Zoya. 

Firstly, there is no such thing as reverse racism and the underrepresentation and misrepresentation of dark-skinned individuals is rampant in Bollywood. 

Secondly, the majority of the criticism is not about skin tone. The criticism is mostly centered around that Indians do not dress/act like that. So it should have focused on this aspect. 

Many people are mistaken about how India looked in the sixties. The Hill Stations always had wealthier families with fashion just like this. Many urban Indians irrespective of wealth also dressed like this. 

If you watch a lot of Bollywood movies in the late 60s and early 70s, you will see many people dressing like this. 

Originally posted by: 1t1svat1t1s

But her story was set  in 1960 and people were eating burgers and fries back then? .😳

Actually, yes. There were malt shops in Bombay where you could get fries, burgers, and shakes. I am sure in Hill Stations, populated with many Anglo Indians; they were more prevalent. 

What is a burger but keema pao in a different form? 

Originally posted by: return_to_hades

Actually, yes. There were malt shops in Bombay where you could get fries, burgers, and shakes. I am sure in Hill Stations, populated with many Anglo Indians; they were more prevalent. 

What is a burger but keema pao in a different forme? 

The first burger came to UK in 1954 and to India in 1984. 

Apparently vada pav made its first entry in 1964.

Originally posted by: 1t1svat1t1s

The first burger came to UK in 1954 and to India in 1984. 

Apparently vada pav made its first entry in 1964.

Do you know what food history source you are referring to? And are you referring to the fast food burger or classic burger? 

Mine is totally anecdotal so it could be totally wrong. 

Did anybody even criticize it for colorism? Looks like she is just trying to make up some nonsensical  issues to deflect from actual criticism.