Entertainment
The Archies Review: Zoya Akhtar Brings The Perfect Christmas Movie Date That Is Contemporary And Replete With Messaging

Director: Zoya Akhtar
Cast: Agastya Nanda, Aditi Saigal aka Dot. Khushi Kapoor, Mihir Ahuja, Suhana Khan, Vedang Raina, Yuvraj Menda, Santana Roach, Rudra Mahuvarkar, Alyy Khan, Luke Kenny, Vinay Pathak, Koel Purie, Tara Sharma Saluja, Sheena Khalid, Delnaz Irani
Where: Streaming now on Netflix
Rating: 4 stars
Experiencing Zoya Akhtar’s sincere tribute to our cherished childhood comic feels deeply personal and, to some extent, cathartic. Having attended an Anglo-Indian institution and with my closest friends hailing from the community, Akhtar’s cultural portrayal resonates with remarkable accuracy.
In the initial stages of the film, a significant character recites a quote from William Faulkner: “You cannot swim for new horizons until you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.” Throughout Akhtar’s promotional campaign, she was often presented with a question that implied she had the freedom to create any film with desired actors and technicians, since she is well-positioned at the top of everyone’s wishlist. However, the filmmaker certainly understands how to enjoy the process and at times, prioritize art for its inherent purpose rather than solely for profit—an ethos that radiates throughout The Archies. As another character aptly notes, “to make art, you must go in, not out.” This clarifies her intention to establish a captivating world, with seven new faces taking centre-stage.
It is the year 1964, and Riverdale, a picturesque town nestled in the hills of North India, bears the traces of English influences in its essence. Inhabitants of this town carry the heritage of English ancestry in their veins, yet their hearts resonate with India as their true home. The beating heart of this town is the community garden known as Green Park. It is the very spot where Archibald ‘Archie’ Andrews (Agastya Nanda), Ethel Muggs (Aditi Saigal aka Dot.), Betty Cooper (Khushi Kapoor), Jughead Jones (Mihir Ahuja), Veronica Lodge (Suhana Khan), Reggie Mantle (Vedang Raina), and Dilton Doiley (Yuvraj Menda) took their initial steps as infants, following their birth in 1947. The resilience of their friendship and the future of the town are put to the test when a suggestion is put forth to construct a hotel instead of the park. Amidst the challenges, they navigate matters of the heart on the threshold of adulthood.
Co-written with her collaborators Ayesha Devitre Dhillon and Reema Kagti, Zoya incorporates multiple themes and concerns, and let me tell you, it’s a delicate path to navigate. Yet, it’s an ingenious move to employ cinema in the form of a musical to convey a message to a new generation that appears to be lost in the pursuit of validation through meaningless reels and endless scrolling on Instagram. The fear of maturing and taking on adult responsibilities, the shared social responsibility, the need for free press and critique, conflicts between humanity and nature, and the imperative need to engage in politics seamlessly align within the narrative, without any element standing out conspicuously. Incorporating all these elements, the film takes a sweeping journey down memory lane to a time when our lives were brimming with innocence and idealism. It harks back to an era where our eyes sparkled with aspirations and ambition. The melodies crafted by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Ankur Tewari and The Islanders perfectly capture the essence of The Archies. From the attire to the production design overseen by Suzanne Caplan Merwanji, to the cinematography skillfully executed by Nikos Anaritsakis, you’ll find yourself irresistibly pulled into this world as it unfolds in front of you. One aspect that the film might be criticized for is its length, an aspect where editor Nitin Baid could have exercised more consideration.
Setting that aside, there isn’t a single false note that can be pinpointed in the performances delivered by the film’s young cast. Agastya effortlessly embodies Archie, a character that occasionally flirts, infusing idealism with his charm. Dot., as Ethel, is delightfully ambitious, and her character resonated with me the most. Vedang effectively portrays the neighborhood heartthrob Reggie, while Mihir, as Archie’s bro-dude Jughead, is hilariously on point. Suhana is aptly yet unconventionally cast as Veronica, a daddy’s princess with a heart. Khushi embodies the perfect girl-next-door who loves to bake. However, my favorite performance has to be Yuvraj as Dilton, the genius whose moment of truth will leave you deeply moved.
The Archies arrives on Netflix as an early Christmas gift, one that will leave you with a heartwarming feeling. It’s a film that you’d cherish revisiting with your friends on lazy Sunday afternoons.
Entertainment
Sidharth Malhotra, Kiara Advani’s Daughter’s First Photos LEAKED? Here’s The Truth Behind Viral Images

Bollywood’s much-loved couple Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani welcomed their first child, a baby girl, on July 15 in Mumbai. The next day, the actors confirmed the happy news through a joint Instagram post, while also requesting privacy for their daughter.
The couple did not share any photos of their daughter and also requested paparazzi not to take her pictures or record videos. However, several a few days back, a set of pictures showing Sidharth and Kiara holding a baby surfaced on social media.
In one photo, Sidharth is seen cradling a child and looking at her affectionately, while another shows Kiara holding the little one with the couple smiling joyfully. The photos quickly went viral, with fans flooding the comment sections with congratulatory messages and blessings. Some even remarked that the baby resembled Kiara.
However, the images are fake. A section of social media users pointed out that the viral photos have been digitally altered and do not feature the actors with their newborn daughter. They also flagged the visuals as AI-generated, clarifying that the baby shown was not Sidharth and Kiara’s child.
Also, the new parents have not shared any pictures with the media or on their official social media accounts.
Sidharth and Kiara welcomed their first child — a baby girl — on July 15 in Mumbai, 2.5 years after their marriage. They had tied the knot in a dreamy ceremony in February 2023 after dating for several years.
In February 2025, they took everyone by surprise as they dropped a picture of two tiny knitted socks and announced that they were set to welcome their first child.
A day after the birth of their daughter, Sidharth and Kiara took to their social media and shared an official statement which read, “Our hearts are full and our world forever changed. We are blessed with a baby girl!”
They later also requested the paparazzi to not click their child until the family allows it.
Entertainment
Saba khan shoot for the promo for Salman Khan-hosted show

Salman Khan is set to host the season 19th of the version of Bigg Boss. show will be hosted by Salman Khan and the contestants have begun to shoot for the promo.
Saba khan shoot for the promo for Salman Khan-hosted show
According to the sources, Saba khan shot the promo. The shoot commenced on August 15th all set to enter the house as a wild card entry ,saba khan was seen in season 12 asa commoner now she is allset to come back again as a wild Card
The existing contestants are given enough content for the show and the makers do not want to jinx it. Hence, they have decided that there might be more entries. As far as contestants are concerned, amongst the several names floating on the internet who are been locked few of them are dheeraj dhooper ,falak naaz,Mahesh poojary,gaurav Khanna ,payal gaming,Hunar Gandhi, This year, Bigg Boss 19 will have 15 contestants entering the show initially, and another three to four contestants will enter the show as wild card entries.
Entertainment
War 2 Box Office Collection: Hrithik Roshan & Jr NTR Thank Fans As Movie Crosses ₹ 100 Crore Mark In 2 Days

Hrithik Roshan, Jr NTR, and Kiara Advani starrer War 2 was released on Thursday. The film took an opening of Rs. 52 crore (all languages), and on its day 2, it showed a jump and minted Rs. 57.35 crore (all languages). In two days, the movie has collected Rs. 109.35 crore (all languages). Hrithik and Jr NTR on Saturday took to X to thank their fans for all the love they have given to the movie.
Hrithik tweeted, “In Kabir’s world, battles may be won.. but the war goes on. A character that came to life in 2019, has only fueled my fire as an Actor & Entertainer. Witnessing all your cheers & celebrations in cinema halls, only makes Kabir taller and my heart fuller. Kabir was and always will be one of my most cherished on-screen characters. Thank you for all your love & well-wishes for #War2 and Kabir (sic).”
Jr NTR posted on X, “I am seeing your love for #War2 and I love you back for it… Incredible to see the public support for our film which we made with a lot of passion. Let’s goooo!”
Kiara Advani also shared on Instagram, “Your love speaks the loudest… seeing your smiles, your cheers, your excitement fills our hearts with joy.. #War2 in cinemas (sic).”
War vs War 2 Box Office Collection
Well, overall, if we look at the numbers, they are good. But, if we compare War and War 2, the first instalment in Hindi itself had collected Rs. 51.60 crore, and the sequel on the first day collected Rs. 29 crore in Hindi. So, there’s a huge gap in the numbers.
With Jr NTR playing the parallel lead, War 2 is getting a good response in Telugu, and that’s why the overall numbers are good. But, if we only compare the Hindi box office numbers of War and War 2, then the latter’s collection is below par.
War 2 Review
War 2 has received mixed reviews from the critics. “and those invested in the YRF Spy Universe, this is a decent but not standout chapter. For others, it’s an overstuffed action entertainer that shines in moments but ultimately misses the knockout punch.”
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