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.
Bollywood
Farhan Akhtar’s Excel Entertainment comes on board Anupam Kher’s ‘Tanvi The Great’

Mumbai, June 28: Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani’s production banner Excel Entertainment has joined forces with Anupam Kher’s production studio for “Tanvi The Great”.
Excel Entertainment has come on board the project as the global distributor for the drama scheduled to reach the cinema halls on July 18, this year.
Kher took to his official Instagram handle and posted an image with Farhan and Ritesh. Sharing the exciting announcement, he wrote, “ANNOUNCEMENT: Behind every great story are those who dare to believe in it and those who step in to take it even further. Today, that belief turns stronger with #ExcelEntertainment joining our journey. One of Indian cinema’s most passionate storytellers, their support in Tanvi’s journey will strengthen our dream to take her story far and wide globally. Thank you dearest @faroutakhtar and @ritesh_sid for your faith, support and appreciation!”
On Monday, Kher was seen walking the New York streets with legendary Hollywood actor and his friend Robert De Niro.
Kher, who was in the Big Apple for the premiere of “Tanvi: The Great” said that he never thought of doing such a thing even in his “wildest dreams”.
Taking to his Instagram handle, Kher dropped a picture with De Niro, along with the caption: “Never in my wildest dreams had I ever thought that one day I will be walking on the streets of New York with the GREATEST ACTOR in the world. The ICONIC #RobertDeNiro! God is kind and so is Mr. De Niro!! Jai Mata Di! #Actors.”
For the unversed, Kher and De Niro were seen sharing the screen in the 2012 Hollywood release “Silver Linings Playbook”, which was made under the direction of David O. Russell.
Backed by Kher Studios and NFDC, in collaboration with Lower Middle-Class Corporation, “Tanvi The Great” has Shubhangi Dutt, Iain Glen, Boman Irani, Jackie Shroff, Arvind Swami, Pallavi Joshi, Karan Tacker, Nasser, and Shubhangi in pivotal roles, along with others.
Entertainment
The fascinating connection between Shefali Jariwala and Salman Khan

Mumbai, June 28: Actress Shefali Jariwala, who passed away on Friday night in Mumbai, climbed the ladder to success with the remix of her song, ‘Kaanta Laga’. The actress has an interesting connection with Bollywood superstar Salman Khan.
Back in the early 2000s, the dot com bubble had burst, a decade had passed since the New Economic Policy of India was enacted. Like other sectors, India’s entertainment industry too was looking west. But to make the content marketable, it was imperative to have the basic thread from India. That’s how the remix of ‘Kaanta Laga’ came to life.
Director duo Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru, who are known for ‘Sanam Teri Kasam’, started off with music videos, and were the creative forces behind the remix as they cast Shefali in a bold avatar of a rebellious girl who wants to go to a club.
When the music video came out, it triggered a national uproar over its ‘indecent’ portrayal of a young woman, who reads adult magazines, dresses differently from what the norm was back then, and has a rebellious grain.
The director duo were once told by Salman Khan to stay clear of such disruptive ideas that challenge the moral fabric of the nation. Salman, who worked with Radhika and Vinay in ‘Lucky: No Time for Love’, was not impressed by what the director duo had done in the remix in terms of the visuals.
However, as fate would have it, the same song was used in Salman’s film ‘Mujhse Shaadi Karogi’, which was released 2 years after the remix came out. What’s even interesting is that Shefali too featured in the song in the film along with Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar, who essayed Salman’s best friend in the film.
Shefali entered the ‘Bigg Boss’ house for its 13th season. Salman has been hosting the show for close to 15 years now. It marked the full-circle for the actress. Shefali, whose portrayal was dismissed by Salman at the start of her career, was hosted by the superstar when she became a part of the reality show.
Shefali reportedly passed away on Friday following a cardiac arrest. Her husband Parag Tyagi reportedly rushed her to a hospital in the Andheri area of Mumbai but doctors declared her dead on arrival. Her body has been sent to Cooper Hospital in Andheri for further formalities.
Bollywood
Delnaaz Irani explains why audience loyalty has shifted in today’s TV landscape

Mumbai, June 24: Actress Delnaaz Irani opened up about the evolving nature of the small screen and why audience loyalty isn’t what it used to be.
Speaking to media, she shared valuable insights into how the rise of OTT platforms, changing viewing habits, and the abundance of content have transformed the way audiences engage with television today. Irani, known for her extensive body of work on television, spoke about how the industry has evolved over the years. Addressing the common perception that TV shows no longer enjoy the long runs they once did, the actress maintained that the quality of content hasn’t necessarily declined.
She emphasized that each show has its own journey and that content creators are still putting in dedicated effort to bring meaningful stories to viewers. However, she acknowledged that the media landscape has undergone a massive transformation. Comparing it to the ‘90s and early 2000s, Delnaaz pointed out that the television industry back then operated with fewer channels and limited platforms.
“Every show has its own journey. Content creators are working hard, and good content is still being made. But the media landscape has changed drastically. Back in the ’90s and early 2000s, we didn’t have this many channels or platforms. Today, OTT has taken over in a big way. There’s so much variety that audience loyalty is scattered. The TRP game has shifted. It’s not about quality alone—luck and timing play a big role.”
Delnaaz Irani also reflected on her experience with the beloved historical comedy “Akbar Birbal.” She called it one of the most special projects of her career, having been part of the popular TV series for nearly three years. The Kal Ho Naa Ho actress expressed a deep sense of pride in revisiting the same role for the stage version, calling it a full-circle moment.
Speaking about the challenges of live comedy, Delnaaz shared that the stage has always been home for her. With her acting roots grounded in theatre, she finds performing comedy in front of a live audience not just effortless but immensely enjoyable. “Comedy has always come naturally to me. I started my journey from the stage; that’s where my acting roots are. The stage was my school, my training ground. So, for me, doing comedy on stage doesn’t feel like work—it feels like play, like I’m just having fun.”
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