PremiumZoya Akhtar addresses nepotism debate around The Archies – ‘Who are you to tell me what to do with my money?’
Ever since The Archies was released on Netflix, it has become prey to the nepotism debate. Here is how filmmaker Zoya Akhtar reacted to it.
Zoya Akhtar addresses the nepotism debate around The Archies.
Last Updated: 11.59 PM, Dec 09, 2023
On December 7 – that is two days ago – Netflix officially released the much-awaited movie of OTT titled ‘The Archies’. The movie features popular celebrity kids namely Suhana Khan (Shah Rukh Khan’s daughter), Agastya Nanda (Amitabh Bachchan’s grandson), and Khushi Kapoor (Boney Kapoor’s daughter) in key roles. Not only this, but the movie also featured wealthy youngsters namely Vedang Raina, Mihir Ahuja, Aditi "Dot" Saigal, and Yuvraj Menda in crucial roles. Soon after this movie was released, it got submerged under the umbrella of nepotism.
Many social media users have pointed out the privileges available to the star kids as compared to an outsider in the Indian film industry. Some internet users have already given a thumbs down to watching the movie to prevent the rich in society from becoming the wealthiest of all.
Zoya Akhtar addresses nepotism debate around The Archies
In an interview with The Juggernaut recently, the director of The Archies – Zoya Akhtar, shared her views on the debate. Zoya – for the unfamiliar is the daughter of famous lyricist Javed Akhtar.
She said, “I think the debate is about haves and have-nots. It 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. Everyone needs to have the same kind of education, job opportunities, et al. But when you turn around and say Suhana Khan shouldn’t be in my film, it’s banal because it’s not going to change your life whether she’s in my film or not. You have to talk about what is going to change your life.”
“Nepotism is when I take public money or someone else’s money and favour my friends and family. Nepotism cannot be when I take my own money! Who are you to tell me what to do with my money? It’s my money! If tomorrow I want to spend my money on my niece, it’s 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,” she wrapped up the conversation.