The Archies: Zoya Akhtar hits back at nepotism claims, reveals media ignored four rising stars

Zoya Akhtar's upcoming film, "The Archies," featuring a stellar cast including Suhana Khan, Khushi Kapoor, Agastya Nanda, Yuvraj Menda, Mihir Ahuja, Vedang Raina, and Dot, has been a hot topic since its announcement. 

However, in a recent interview, Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti expressed their frustration with the media's selective focus on the nepotism debate, particularly highlighting star kids like Agastya, Suhana, and Khushi while overlooking the other four talented actors – Dot, Yuvraj, Mihir, and Vedang.

Speaking to Film Companion, Zoya Akhtar pointed out that despite casting four non-star kids, the media chose only to spotlight the star kids, saying, "What I find fascinating is there were 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, and it's heartbreaking to see. We've put seven kids out there. You've just ignored four. And you took away their moment. So sorry. Your problem."

Reema Kagti chimed in, mentioning that many people assume they've cast only star kids in "The Archies," but she reminds them that there are seven kids in the trailer.

Zoya emphasized that "The Archies" is her fifth film, and she always casts based on what works for the film. She mentioned having no pressure to cast anyone and conducting numerous auditions.

The film is set to be released on Netflix on December 7, 2023. As Zoya Akhtar's cinematic journey continues, "The Archies" promises to be a captivating addition to her repertoire.