From Suhana Khan to Khushi Kapoor, Zoya Akhtar Reveals the Casting Story of The Archies

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DECEMBER 07,2023

The Archies is finally out on Netflix, and the first reviews are already calling it a really well-made film. The film marks the debut of Khushi Kapoor, Suhana Khan, and Agatsya Nanda, along with the other members of the cast.

Reema Kagti, who is a frequent collaborator with Zoya Akhtar, shared that the casting process for The Archies was quite intensive, and the actors had to go through multiple screen tests before they were finalized to play the parts.

She said, "The credit goes to our casting directors, Nandini Shrikent and Karan Mally. They held extensive tests and several rounds of tests before they came to Zoya. We didn't go with any pre-decided notions that this actor has to be that character. The kids were not given any point of reference, and they were tested for all the parts. It was only after four-five rounds that they finally came to Zoya, and even after that, Zoya sat with them."

Read more: The Archies: Vedang Raina To Dot, Meet The Outsider Gang Of Bollywood

She further added that they have arrived at the best actors after the intensive audition. Then, Zoya Akhtar revealed that Khushi Kapoor was the first one to be cast. She added, "I think the person who was cast first was Betty, and the person who was cast last was Archie. I think each one has surprised us in some way or another. Ethel is a musician. Dot is a musician, and I met her to do the music. I follow her on YouTube that's how I know her."

Speaking about Shah Rukh Khan's daughter, Suhana Khan, Zoya said, "Suhana was already acting. She was at a school in New York. She was training to be an actor, so we knew she wanted to act." Suhana Khan was already acting, and Zoya revealed that it was easy to be cast in the film.

The Archies is set in Riverdale in the 1960s and tells a story of love and friendship amidst the growing anxiety of a park that is under threat of being destroyed by developers. The film is jointly written by Ayesha Devitre Dhillon, Reema Kagti, and Zoya Akhtar. It is among Netflix India's most ambitious projects.

Read This: The Archies: 4 Reasons to Watch This Zoya Akhtar Film