Filmmaker Zoya Akhtar recently shared her thoughts on the harsh criticism that the young actors of '

The Archies

' faced after the film’s release.
During a conversation on Komal Nahta's Game Changers podcast, she admitted that she felt responsible for the backlash directed at the debutants—Suhana Khan, Khushi Kapoor, and

Agastya Nanda

.
'The Archies,' released in 2023 on Netflix, introduced three-star kids—Amitabh Bachchan’s grandson Agastya Nanda, Shah Rukh Khan’s daughter Suhana Khan, and Sridevi’s younger daughter Khushi Kapoor. However, after the film premiered, many online viewers were critical of their performances.

When asked about how the audience reacts to newcomers, Zoya explained that not all new actors receive the same treatment. She pointed out that the audience can sometimes be harsher on certain newcomers than on others. She added that she felt bad about the negative attention the young actors received because they had trusted her throughout the filmmaking process.
According to Hindustan Times, Zoya expressed that since she had auditioned, selected, trained, and directed them, she felt it was her responsibility. She stated that the actors simply followed her instructions and did what she asked them to do, making her feel even worse when they were heavily criticized. She also mentioned that the reaction from some people felt like bullying, which she did not think was fair.
Meanwhile, Khushi Kapoor, in an earlier interview with The Indian Express, had spoken about the film’s reception. She mentioned that if anything could be changed, it would be the way the film was marketed. She believed that it should have been made clearer that 'The Archies' was aimed at a younger audience. She explained that the viewers who truly enjoyed the film were mostly under the age of 16, and she felt that not every film needed to cater to all audiences.
Directed by Zoya Akhtar, 'The Archies' also featured Mihir Ahuja, Dot, Vedang Raina, and Yuvraj Menda. The film was officially released on Netflix on November 22, 2023. Despite facing criticism from some viewers, it found an appreciative audience among younger fans.