Zoya Akhtar quipped about nepotism debate surrounding her film The Archies.
Zoya Akhtar is an acclaimed filmmaker, with some acclaimed films like Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and gully boy on her success list. Her latest film, The Archies, is also streaming on Netflix. It marked the debut of Shah Rukh Khan’s daughter Suhana Khan, Janhvi Kapoor’s sister and Sridevi-Boney Kapoor’s daughter Khushi Kapoor and amitabh Bachchan’s grandson agastya Nanda. Even before it’s release, The Archies remained in the headlines since it brought up the whole nepotism debate. Now zoya akhtar has defended herself for roping in star kids.Speaking with the Juggernaut, zoya akhtar explained, “I think it (the debate) is about privilege, access, and social capital. I completely understand having anger or frustration at the fact that you do not have the access some people get so easily. That is a conversation to be had. Everyone needs to have the same kind of education, job opportunities, et al. But when you turn around and say Suhana Khan shouldn’t be in my film, it’s banal because it’s not going to change your life whether she’s in my film or not. You have to talk about what is going to change your life.”She went on to add, “My dad came from nowhere and made a life for himself. I was born and bred in the industry, and I have every right to follow whatever I want to do. As part of his network and what he made, I know those people. What am I going to do, disown my dad because I want to be a filmmaker? Are you saying I can’t choose my profession? It makes no sense. The actual problem is something else, and this is just like beating a dead horse… it’s not going to do anything. If every kid born into the film industry never worked in cinema, it’s still not going to change your life.”