Among the most famous comic book series, ‘The Archies’ is a favourite of Netflix. Its most famous adaptation on the OTT platform goes by the name ‘Riverdale’. Needless to say, such series are meant for teenagers and young adults. A vast majority of Netflix’s audience doesn’t watch Riverdale or other spin-offs based on the Archies comics brand. Yet, despite plummeting business in India, Netflix thought it fit to bring in another adaptation of the Archies. This time, called ‘The Archies’, the film features star-kids who are making their debut performances in the world of cinema.
Directed by Zoya Akhtar, the Archies features sons and daughters of established actors in Bollywood. The movie features star kids such as Agastya Nanda, Suhana Khan and Khushi Kapoor and Dot, apart from commoners like Mihir Ahuja, Vedang Raina and Yuvraj Menda.
Agastya Nanda is the grandson of superstar Amitabh Bachchan, while Suhana Khan is the daughter of Shak Rukh Khan. Khushi Kapoor is the daughter of Boney Kapoor and Sridevi, while ‘Dot’ is the daughter of late Indian rock musician Amit Saigal. To be fair, ‘Dot’ has established herself as a known musician, with her original composition ‘Everybody Dances to Techno’ making her famous among rock enthusiasts.
What’s Up, Zoya?
Zoya Akhtar, who is herself the daughter of Javed Akhtar seems to have made it her life’s mission to launch the career of star kids. What else explains her featuring no less than four star kids in her ‘The Archies’ adaptation on Netflix? It simply makes no sense. Due to the fact that star kids have been featured in the film, the biggest names from Bollywood are sharing its teaser, congratulating their kids for making it big in life.
Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Gauri Khan, among others took to social media to congratulate the kids and Zoya Akhtar for the release of Archies’ teaser.
Is there a specific reason why Zoya Akhtar has tapped star kids to play a majority of the roles in her upcoming film? What do such star kids bring to the table that those with a non-Bollywood lineage do not? What is so special about these kids?
Bollywood’s ‘Insider Vs Outsider’ Problem
Bollywood is a nasty industry, and having a recognizable and royal filmy surname is a prerequisite to make the cut in Mumbai. Talent, as we all know, has little to no place in the industry. The snooty cartel of Bollywood, headed by the likes of Karan Johar, has always shown an elite bias against actors who come from different parts of India with humble beginnings to account for, looking to make a name for themselves in Mumbai.
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Bollywood has many ‘insiders’, and a few ‘outsiders’. The former is a bunch of untalented characters who think they have conquered the art of acting. They are a mean, spiteful lot, talking behind the backs of those who are not in their elitist circle.
‘Outsiders’ are those unfortunate beings who get to exist in the Mumbai-centred industry only at the mercy of Bollywood elites. So, while the focus is on star kids in The Archies, a few commoners have been included as well, just so that Zoya Akhtar is not seen to have gone overboard in promoting children born and brought up in Bollywood.
Bollywood has been destroyed due to the constant inkling that directors, filmmakers and producers have of promoting and featuring star kids in lead roles in their productions. Genuine talent gets ignored in the process, and the people of India see it all. It is obvious that Bollywood today suffers an image crisis, and is disliked by majority of Indians.