Zoya Akhtar expressed feelings of guilt after Suhana Khan, Agastya Nanda, and Khushi Kapoor experienced bullying related to The Archies, stating, "What I felt terrible about was..."
In the world of Bollywood, the release of a new film is often an exciting event. However, for director Zoya Akhtar and the newcomers of her 2023 Netflix release, The Archies, the occasion was marred by criticism and a wave of trolling and bullying.
The teenage musical drama, which marked the acting debuts of Suhana Khan, Agastya Nanda, and Khushi Kapoor, was not well-received by the audience. Despite a professional crew and the involvement of many top names in the business, the film received criticism and failed to resonate with viewers.
Akhtar, who auditioned, gave roles to, and worked closely with the newcomers, felt a sense of responsibility and guilt when they were subjected to trolling and bullying. She believes that the audience can be harsh with certain newcomers, but she is hopeful that the talent of her young actors will be recognised with time.
The Archies was not the last we saw of the trio. Suhana Khan will be sharing screen space with her father Shah Rukh Khan in Siddharth Anand's action thriller King, scheduled for release on March 20, 2026. Khushi Kapoor's next film is a Netflix release opposite Saif Ali Khan's son Ibrahim Ali Khan in Nadaaniyan, premiering on March 7. Agastya Nanda's next film is Ikkis, the biopic of the late Param Vir Chakra awardee Arun Khetarpal, directed by Sriram Raghavan and co-starring Jaideep Ahlawat and Dharmendra.
However, between The Archies and their next projects, the newcomers faced setbacks. Khushi Kapoor's first theatrical release after The Archies was the romantic comedy Loveyapa, co-starring Junaid Khan, which flopped at the box office.
As for Akhtar, she has not publicly addressed the trolling and bullying of the newcomers in The Archies specifically. However, filmmakers and public figures often respond to such issues by emphasising the importance of empathy, understanding, and support for new talent in the industry.
Despite the challenges they have faced, the newcomers remain optimistic about their future in Bollywood. Only time will tell if Akhtar's faith in their talent will be proven right.
[1] It is important to note that there are general resources available for dealing with bullying, but specific information on Zoya Akhtar's response to the trolling and bullying of the newcomers in The Archies, including Suhana Khan, Agastya Nanda, and Khushi Kapoor, is not available in the provided search results.
Although the newcomers, Suhana Khan, Agastya Nanda, and Khushi Kapoor, faced harsh criticism and bullying during their Bollywood career debut in 'The Archies', they remain optimistic about their future in India's entertainment industry. Film industry professionals often stress the significance of empathy, understanding, and support for new talent, which might help these young celebrities in the long run.
