Zoya Akhtar-Netflix’s Archies Is Set In The Anglo-Indian Community

Not many films since  K. S. Sethumadhavan’s Julie in 1975 have been set in  the Catholic community. Sure, we have had  the token Uncle John, right there next to Rahim Chacha in mainstream cinema. But that’s just about it.

 Zoya Akhtar’s  desi  adaptation  of   the globally beloved Archies comics is set in the Anglo-Indian  community in the  1960s. The  director  of Zindagi Na Milegi Dobaara has  recreated the era gone-by with meticulous care.

Says Zoya, “It’s been an absolute honour to be asked to make an Indian adaptation and the first-ever film for this very iconic Archies franchise. 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.”

Newcomers  play the  main roles.Every  actor was  allowed to  have his or her say. On location  in Ooty  there was  a very democratic  atmosphere . Everyone  contributed to the scenes. There was  no hard and  fast  rule  about what  should be said in  a scene, and how. These  are  very young actors and they   have strong ideas on what  sounds right.  If  one of them  was  not comfortable with  the words he or she was given to  speak, the  words were changed.

 Zoya’s Archies is not a  faithful adaptation of the original  Archies comics. She  has taken just the core characters and put them in an environment  that audiences the worldover would connect with.Netflix hopes  to achieve a global  blockbuster  with Zoya Akhtar’s Archies. It is  rumoured  to be  the  most expensive  film to be produced in Indian by Netflix.

Set in the 1960s, this musical drama is being directed by Zoya Akhtar and headlined by an exciting fresh ensemble.  The film will feature Mihir Ahuja, Dot, Khushi Kapoor, Suhana Khan, Yuvraj Menda, Agastya Nanda and Vedang Raina in key roles. The seven  young actors will play the beloved characters from the hugely popular Archie Comics. The film has the iconic gang of The Archies’ at the center of it, and perfectly matches the youthful energy, hope and excitement of the sixties era.