Zoya Akhtar blames media for nepotism||The Archies

https://www.google.com/amp/s/indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/zoya-akhtar-blames-media-for-nepotism-archies-suhana-khan-khushi-kapoor-9025756/lite/

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Zoya Akhtar blames media for nepotism, says it’s ‘heartbreaking’ to see more than half the Archies cast ignored: ‘Sorry, it’s your problem’

Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti said that it is the media's fault that star-kids are highlighted in the film industry, because outsiders in the same position are often ignored.

• By: Entertainment Desk
• November 14, 2023 09:58 ISTSuhana Khan, Agastya Nanda and Khushi Kapoor in The Archies song Va Va Voom.

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Director Zoya Akhtar suggested that the media is being hypocritical about the nepotism debate in the film industry, because it chooses to focus on star-kids even when others can be highlighted. Citing her upcoming film The Archies as an example, Zoya pointed out that most of the attention has gone to the three celebrity star-kids on the roster – Agastya Nanda, Suhana Khan and Khushi Kapoor – and not the four other newcomers. She didn’t, however, admit that this wouldn’t have happened if she hadn’t cast them in the first place, in the central roles no less.

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An adaptation of the popular comic book series, The Archies also features Mihir Ahuja, Vedang Raina, Aditi ‘Dot’ Saigal and Yuvraj Menda. Together, the seven actors play the famous gang of teenagers from the comics. In an interview with Film Companion, Zoya and her longtime creative partner Reema Kagti were asked to honestly address the casting of the three star-kids, and they said that they simply chose the best performers for the roles. “This is my fifth film, this is not my first rodeo. You’ve seen my work, and I cast to what I think will work for the film, and will work for when you’re doing a theatrical for your budget. You have to balance it out. This was a Netflix film, I had no pressure. I could’ve cast anybody, and honestly, I didn’t need to do anything for once,” she said.

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Holding a mirror up to the media, she continued, “What I find fascinating is this, there were seven kids on that poster. Netflix and Tiger Baby put seven kids on that poster, and the media only spoke about three, and then turns around and tells us about nepotism. Actually, you’re the one not giving the other four attention. You robbed their moment, that’s just heartbreaking to see. You took away their moment, I’m sorry, it’s your problem.” Reema chimed in, “I’ve had a lot of people say to me, ‘You’ve cast these star-kids’, and I tell them, ‘We had seven kids in the trailer, do you know the other four’s names? Did you bother to look at them?’ Because we are very excited about them. What happened was actually quite sad about the other four, and for the three (star-kids).”

What about when she said films that shouldn’t have been made get sequels.

Sounds like her and her brothers entire existence

Lol these nepo orchestrators always carry a bargaining chip. So she cast non-nepos, so are we to applaud this as a great deed. She's simply doing her job, not filling a diversity requirement. The three principal characters Archie, Betty and Veronica are filled by nepos. The other kids were hardly there in the trailer. The focus has stayed on the leads alone. You don't see interviews of other kids with the exception of Vedang, perhaps.

As our estemeed member MostlyHarmless coined, Hack-tar is at her truest here.

Chitt bhi meri, patt bhi meri

Atleast own the fact that she has cast nepo kids. Why become so defensive ?

I can only speak about the trailer, but no one stood out to me per se. Nepo or non nepo (but maybe that was Zoya’s plan all along)

Zoya bro, do I look like a gas stove to you!!?

I agree with her. 👍🏼

Although I haven't watch the trailer, I also think that it is thought as an ensemble cast...and good journalistic reporting should respect all of them equally.

In this case, it's really the media (social, too) who focus on the star-kids.

I bet, not many even did research work about Vedang Raina, Mihir Ahuja, Aditi Saigal and Yuvraj Menda.

When the movie has released and been watched, there is still ample time to focus on the performances.

I guess, Vedang has already got attention and Mihir already is known as a good actor. Aditi (Dot) seems to be an interestingly creative artist and Yuvraj is interested in fashion.

From the teaser (long time ago) I had a good impression of their dynamic.

However, I really wondered what Zoya was gaining by taking so much time with the release....