Zoya Akhtar would change this in 'The Archies'
Zoya Akhtar's directorial venture, The Archies, which marked the debut of several star kids including Suhana Khan and Khushi Kapoor, faced mixed reviews upon its release. While some appreciated the fresh faces, others criticized their performances. In a recent interaction with The Indian Express, Akhtar opened up about what she would have done differently in the film. Here's what she said.
'Certain things with the screenplay, marketing could've been different'
During a rapid-fire round with The Indian Express, Akhtar was asked if she would have changed anything about The Archies in retrospect. She responded, "I think there are certain things with the screenplay, I could have done differently and, certain things with the marketing." However, when probed about what specifically she would change in the screenplay, Akhtar laughed and added, "No, I don't want to say this." The film is streaming on Netflix.
Akhtar previously addressed criticism over casting star kids
Before The Archies hit the screens, there was a heated debate online about Akhtar's decision to cast star kids. Responding, she told Film Companion that she was under "no pressure to cast anyone." Akhtar also pointed out that the film's poster featured seven kids, but only Khan, Agastya Nanda, and Kapoor received attention. "You robbed their moment, and it's heartbreaking....We've put seven kids out there. You've ignored four. And you took away their moment. So sorry. Your problem," she said.
What's next for Akhtar?
Meanwhile, Akhtar is currently basking in the success of the docu-series Angry Young Men, which she co-produced with her brother Farhan Akhtar and actor Salman Khan. The series, now streaming on Amazon Prime Video, celebrates the legacy of the iconic writer duo Salim-Javed. In a previous interview with The Indian Express, Akhtar also revealed that she is working on a crime-mafia film script. She has yet to reveal more details about it.
