Zoya Akhtar slams those trolling ‘The Archies’: How do you define what an Indian looks like? – Times of India

Zoya Akhtar helmed ‘The Archies’ trailer was recently released and it opened to mixed reactions. While a section of the internet was impressed with the desi twist given to the popular comics, a few netizens trolled ‘The Archies’, stating that the characters didn’t look Indian.
Reacting to the criticism that the musical is facing, director Zoya Akhtar questioned the mindset of the trolls.She stated in an interview, “Why do you think that? They’re all Indian. This is kind of reverse (racism). Are you saying fair Indians are not Indians? How do we define what an Indian looks like? It could be Hrithik Roshan, it could be Mr. Rajinikanth, it could beDiljit Dosanjh, it could be Mary Kom. That’s the beauty of India. There are a lot of Indians that are light-skinned.” The trailer took the audience back in time, giving a glimpse of a desi Riverdale.
Speaking about the film, Zoya Akhtar had previously shared, “This is a surreal experience since Archie Comics was a part of my childhood. It is super exciting to take these beloved characters and introduce them to a new generation but still keep the nostalgia of the original comic alive. We have set it in the Anglo-Indian community in India and can’t wait to transport you to the magical, fictional town of Riverdale.”
‘The Archies’ is set in the 60s and features Agastya Nanda as Archie Andrews, Suhana Khan as Veronica Lodge, Khushi Kapoor as Betty Cooper, Mihir Ahuja as Jughead Jones, Vedang Raina as Reggie Mantle, Aditi “Dot” Seigal as Ethel Muggs and Yuvraj Menda as Dilton Doiley. This film is adapted by Zoya and co-writers Reema Kagti and Ayesha DeVitre. ‘The Archies’ will premiere on OTT on November 24.