Zoya Akhtar and Shah Rukh Khan’s first collaboration dates back to 2009 when the superstar made a cameo appearance in her debut directorial, Luck By Chance. The film saw him playing himself and dishing out pearls of wisdom on superstardom to an aspiring actor played by Farhan Akhtar. Nearly 15 years later, Zoya has now directed Shah Rukh’s daughter Suhana Khan in her next film, The Archies. The Netflix film marks Suhana’s debut in the world of movies.
The trailer and the songs of The Archies have received a lot of love from Shah Rukh, who took to social media to give a shout-out and lauded the film for its ‘quaint and beautiful world’. He also shared that while Suhana is looking forward to his film, Dunki, he’s rather excited for release of The Archies. Though Zoya and Shah Rukh haven’t collaborated after Luck By Chance, in an exclusive chat with News18 Showsha, the Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and Gully Boy director reveals that she looks forward to directing him someday in a full-fledged role.
She tells us, “Of course, I want to work with him! I don’t think there’s any director in this industry who wouldn’t want to work with Mr Shah Rukh Khan. But it has to be the right fit, the right film and the right role for someone like him. It will align when it aligns.”
As for Suhana, she not only has acted in The Archies but has also lent her vocals to a song named Jab Tum Na Theen, which marks her singing debut. Despite the buzz and anticipation her debut along with that of star kids Agastya Nanda and Khushi Kapoor has been creating, Zoya acknowledges the negativity she has been receiving for promoting nepotism and casting only ‘rich looking actors’.
She opines that cancel culture has become the order of the day and reacting to the same, says, “I do read some of the comments. I can’t read all because I’m working and I’ve a life. But yes, it has become a culture. There’s nothing that comes out there that doesn’t get trolled or receive hate. You just have to do your job and work hard.”
But Zoya’s happy to be able to hold their hands on their maiden project and introduce them to the audience and the film industry. Quiz her if she considers herself to be their friend, philosopher and guide, and she laughs, “I wouldn’t claim any of those positions. I’m the director. I’ve worked with them. They chose me as fiercely as I chose them. I’m very happy to have been there for them at the start of their journey. They’re lovely and a talented bunch of kids. I’ll always be there for them.”
Set in the 1960s, The Archies reimagines the classic Archie comics as a live-action musical set in the imaginary idyllic town of Riverdale in India. The film stars Suhana as Veronica Lodge, Khushi as Betty Cooper, Agastya as Archie Andrews, Dot as Ethel Muggs, Vedang Raina as Reggie Mantle, Mihir Ahuja as Jughead Jones and Yuvraj Menda as Dilton Doiley. It is all set to premiere on Netflix on December 7.
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