{"id":33420,"date":"2023-12-09T14:50:05","date_gmt":"2023-12-09T14:50:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/zoya-akhtar-opens-up-on-nepotism-debate-on-the-archies\/"},"modified":"2023-12-09T14:50:05","modified_gmt":"2023-12-09T14:50:05","slug":"zoya-akhtar-opens-up-on-nepotism-debate-on-the-archies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/zoya-akhtar-opens-up-on-nepotism-debate-on-the-archies\/","title":{"rendered":"Zoya Akhtar opens up on nepotism debate on ‘The Archies’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Bollywood director Zoya Akhtar opened up on the nepotism debate surrounding her film \u2018The Archies<\/em>\u2018 after the film and its cast found themselves on the receiving end of merciless trolling.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Watch ARY News live on\u00a0live.arynews.tv<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

It is pertinent to mention \u2018The Archies<\/em>\u2018 was panned for being a \u2018Nepo-Fest\u2019. Augustya Nanda, who plays Archie Andrews, is the grandson of star couple Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan. Khushi Kapoor \u2013 who plays Betty Cooper \u2013 is the daughter of Sridevi and Boney Kapoor.<\/p>\n

Suhana Khan, who essays Veronica Lodge, is the daughter of Shah Rukh Khan.<\/p>\n

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Zoya Akhtar believes the criticism of the film\u2019s casting was \u2018banal\u2019 as no one can dictate to her what to do with her own money.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the debate is about haves and have-nots,\u201d she said. \u201cIt 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone needs to have the same kind of education, job opportunities, et al. But when you turn around and say Suhana Khan shouldn\u2019t be in my film, it\u2019s banal because it\u2019s not going to change your life whether she\u2019s in my film or not. You have to talk about what is going to change your life.\u201d<\/p>\n

She added, \u201cMy dad (Javed Akhtar) 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\u2019t choose my profession? It makes no sense.\u201d<\/p>\n

Related \u2013 Zoya Akhtar admits being a \u2018little nervous\u2019 for \u2018The Archies<\/em>\u2018<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Zoya Akhtar added that nepotism would have happened if she had taken public money or someone else\u2019s money and favoured her friends and family.<\/p>\n

\u201cNepotism cannot be when I take my own money! Who are you to tell me what to do with my money? It\u2019s my money! If tomorrow I want to spend my money on my niece, it\u2019s my problem! At the end of the day, if a director or an actor gets another job, it is solely on the audience. They decide if they want to see them or not,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

\u2018The Archies<\/em>\u2018 follows Archie Andrews and his gang navigating romance, friendship and the future of Riverdale as developers threaten to destroy a beloved park.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n