Advertisement
India
This Week in AsiaLifestyle & Culture

Archie in Bollywood? How an American comic became the subject of an Indian Netflix film

  • Archie comics have long had a cultural impact in India, giving readers their first taste of American life and even influencing some Bollywood films
  • Zoya Akhtar’s soon-to-be-released Netflix adaptation stars Shah Rukh Khan’s daughter and Amitabh Bachchan’s grandson

Reading Time:4 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
The cast of The Archies with director Zoya Akhtar attend Netflix’s Tudum: A Global Fan Event 2023 in Sao Paulo in June. Photo: Getty Images for Netflix
Kalpana Sunder

Cheerleading squads, trips to Pop Tates’ soda shop, feasting on burgers and hot dogs, love triangles, as well as academic challenges – the Archie comics, first produced in the 1940s, were iconic in the sense that they defined an entire American generation. Comics have always been an escape, and Archie was no exception.

Advertisement
Now, the beloved Archie characters, also popular in India since the 1980s, will be adapted into a musical film by Indian director Zoya Akhtar. Called The Archies, the story of teenage life, love and rebellion – featuring several up-and-coming Bollywood stars in their acting debut – will be released on December 7 on Netflix.

Industry insiders say the Archie comics have long had a cultural impact in India, giving readers their first taste of American life and even influencing some Bollywood films.

“Are you ready to go back in time? Welcome to The Archies,” Akhtar wrote in a post on her official Instagram account as she shared the trailer of the film.

The cast of The Archies. The film will be released on Netflix on December 7. Photo: Handout
The cast of The Archies. The film will be released on Netflix on December 7. Photo: Handout

The much-touted film will star actor Shah Rukh Khan’s daughter Suhana Khan and film producer Boney Kapoor’s daughter Khushi Kapoor, as well as veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan’s grandson Agastya Nanda.

Advertisement
Advertisement