When filmmaker Zoya Akhtar embarked on the journey of bringing the beloved Archie comics to life, she aimed to capture the essence of its timeless characters while localizing the story for the desi audience. The Archies meets The Punisher crossover may have surprised comic fans in 1994, but what awaits Indian viewers is a fresh take on the narrative, set against the backdrop of Ooty's picturesque landscapes.
In an exclusive interview with Vogue India, Akhtar and The Archies team delve into the upcoming spinoff as we focus on three rising stars, Agastya Nanda, Suhana Khan and Khushi Kapoor, who are set to make their acting debuts with the show.
How ‘The Archies’ happened
Akhtar's journey into adapting the Archie comics for Netflix came as a serendipitous twist of fate. As she recalls, the opportunity arose during a conversation with Sharad Devarajan, co-founder of Graphic India. The comics had already been leased to Netflix, but destiny had other plans. “While we were speaking, I happened to tell him [Devarajan] that I’m a huge fan of the Archie comics. He said, ‘Oh, it’s ours and we just leased it to Netflix.’ In my head, it was gone since it had been handed over to a streaming platform. The next thing you know, he spoke with Netflix and they contacted me to ask if I would like to make the film.”
Assembling and preparing the cast
One of the most critical tasks was assembling the perfect cast to bring these beloved characters to life. Akhtar emphasized the importance of capturing the essence of the characters, and she scoured auditions to find actors who embodied that essence. Interestingly, two of the cast members were discovered through Instagram and YouTube.
Directing a cast of seven newcomers was no small feat either, even with some of them hailing from illustrious Bollywood families – Agastya being Amitabh Bachchan’s grandson, Suhana being Shah Rukh Khan’s daughter, and Khushi being the late Sridevi’s daughter. To prepare them for the film, Akhtar organized an intensive boot camp to make them comfortable with the camera and working on set. From dance classes to acting workshops and cinematography training, the boot camp covered it all.
Agastya Nanda as Archie Andrews
Agastya, while stepping into Archie Andrews’ shoes, told Vogue that Archie would choose both wealth and fame, especially since he aspires to be a renowned musician. Agastya also acknowledges the allure of having both. When considering superpowers, Agastya imagines Archie would choose the ability to clone himself to navigate the complexities of dating multiple girls. Meanwhile, he's more drawn to the idea of mind reading.
Suhana Khan as Veronica Lodge
Suhana embodies Veronica Lodge's spirit by sharing that Veronica would always have a backup outfit ready if she found herself at an event with someone wearing the same attire. But Suhana’s social graces would lead her to take a photo with the person. When it comes to relationships, Veronica – accustomed to attention from admirers – would text other boys. But Suhana values fidelity. In the face of nasty rumours, Veronica would respond with her signature wit, but Suhana would have a good cry about it.
Khushi Kapoor as Betty Cooper
Khushi, portraying Betty Cooper, shares that Betty's character is the kind to let a close friend keep a borrowed top. Khushi would do the same and opt to purchase a new one if need be. When it comes to staying out past curfew and facing her father, Betty would bake an apology cake, while Khushi would write a lengthy apology text. In situations where a troubling secret about a friend surfaces, Betty would find a way to speak to her friend without revealing her source. Khushi would do the same.
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