Filmmaker Zoya Akhtar, who recently helmed Netflix’s The Archies, has previously opened up about the ‘rigorous’ casting process and how each of the actors in the film had to go through many auditions. Now, the filmmaker has discussed the remuneration paid to the debutants. The Archies marked the debut of Shah Rukh Khan’s daughter Suhana Khan, Boney Kapoor and Sridevi’s daughter Khushi Kapoor and Amitabh Bachchan’s grandson Agastya Nanda. Dot, Vedang Raina and Yuvraj Menda also debuted with the Netflix film.
In an interview with Mid-day, when Zoya was asked ‘how much did you pay these kids,’ the filmmaker said, “I can’t tell you that.” Producer Reema Kagti, who was also present at the interview, said, “It’s not very unequal. It’s pretty much all in the same range.” Zoya then added, “All seven of them were treated equally.”
Zoya’s casting choices in The Archies once again sparked the nepotism debate. She defended her decisions, talking about privilege, access, and social capital. Zoya recognized the frustration due to unequal opportunities but noted that focusing on star kids in her film might not change things much for those without such privileges.
The filmmaker said during a chat with The Juggernaut, “Nepotism is when I take public money or someone else’s money and favour my friends and family. Nepotism cannot be when I take my own money! Who are you to tell me what to do with my money? It’s my money! If tomorrow I want to spend my money on my niece, it’s my problem. At the end of the day, if a director or an actor gets another job, it is solely on the audiences. Viewers decide if they want to see them or not.”
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How much did Zoya Akhtar pay Suhana Khan, Khushi Kapoor, Agastya Nanda and Vedang Raina for The Archies? Reema Kagti says ‘they were treated equally’ – The Indian Express
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