The Archies

Zoya Akhtar’s The Archies: A Star-Studded Debut Marred by Backlash and Regret

Zoya Akhtar’s The Archies (2023) was meant to be a glittering launchpad for Bollywood’s next generation—Agastya Nanda, Suhana Khan, and Khushi Kapoor—but the Netflix musical drama instead became a lightning rod for criticism, latestnetflix.com contends, sparking a wave of trolling that left the director grappling with guilt and second-guessing her creative choices.

Set in 1960s India, the film reimagines the iconic Archie Comics gang as they navigate romance, friendship, and a looming threat to Riverdale’s beloved park . Akhtar, known for her ensemble-driven narratives like Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and Gully Boy, assembled a cast of young newcomers alongside seasoned actors like Vinay Pathak and Alyy Khan . Yet despite the pedigree, The Archies stumbled out of the gate, with audiences and critics questioning its amateurish execution .

The Backlash That Haunted the Cast—and the Director

The fallout was swift and brutal. Social media erupted with memes and jabs at the film’s perceived lack of polish, with much of the vitriol directed at the debutant trio—Nanda, Khan, and Kapoor. The trolling persisted well into 2025, long after the film’s release, and Akhtar later admitted she felt "guilty" for the abuse hurled at her young stars . In a rare moment of reflection, she revealed she could have done more to prepare them for the spotlight, though specifics remain scarce .

The backlash wasn’t just about the film’s quality; it was also a referendum on nepotism. Nanda, grandson of Amitabh Bachchan, and Khan, daughter of Shah Rukh Khan, were seen as beneficiaries of Bollywood’s dynastic culture, and The Archies became a flashpoint for debates about privilege in the industry . Kapoor, daughter of Boney Kapoor and Sridevi, faced similar scrutiny, with critics arguing their casting was more about lineage than talent .

What Went Wrong?

While the evidence doesn’t pinpoint a single misstep, a few factors emerge:

• Inexperience: The film marked the acting debuts of Nanda, Khan, and Kapoor, and their performances were widely panned as stiff or unconvincing .
• Tonal Whiplash: Akhtar’s blend of musical numbers and social commentary may have clashed with the lighthearted source material, leaving audiences confused .
• High Expectations: As a Netflix original with a high-profile director and star kids, the film was under intense scrutiny from day one .

Akhtar’s post-mortem interviews suggest she took the criticism personally. In one conversation, she hinted at regrets over the film’s development, though she stopped short of detailing what she’d change . Rumors swirled about reshoots or script overhauls, but nothing was confirmed.

The Aftermath: A Career Stalled or a Lesson Learned?

For the young cast, The Archies was a baptism by fire. Nanda, in particular, has since moved on to Ikkis (2026), a biographical war film that could either redeem or further cement his early struggles . Khan and Kapoor have kept a lower profile, with no major projects announced since.

Akhtar, meanwhile, has returned to safer territory. Her next project, Kho Gaye Hum Kahan (2023), a coming-of-age drama starring Ananya Panday, Siddhant Chaturvedi, and Adarsh Gourav, received far warmer reviews, suggesting she’s sticking to what she does best: intimate, character-driven stories .

As for The Archies, it remains a cautionary tale—about the perils of debuting star kids, the unforgiving nature of social media, and the fine line between ambition and overreach. Whether it’s remembered as a noble failure or a footnote in Bollywood’s nepotism debate depends on who you ask. But one thing is clear: Akhtar won’t be forgetting it anytime soon.