After all the buzz, Zoya Akhtar’s Netflix film The Archies has proved to be the perfect launchpad for the three celebrity youngsters Suhana Khan, Khushi Kapoor and Agastya Nanda. Not only have they performed well, the other young actors leave an impression too. Here’s how the bunch of seven fared.
Suhana Khan as Veronica Lodge
Full of sass, Suhana Khan is at the front and centre of the pack of youngsters at Riverdale. Shah Rukh Khan’s 23-year-old daughter brings bratty energy to the mix with a twinkle in her eyes and a mischievous smile as Ronnie, a rich and powerful man’s lonely daughter to whom everything is served on a platter. Suhana looks confident in her dancing shoes too. Her two emotional scenes – one with her screen dad, played by the fabulous Alyy Khan, in his office and the other where she confesses to Betty that she has always envied her – stand out.
Khushi Kapoor as Betty Cooper
The Archies marks the screen debut of Sridevi’s younger daughter Khushi Kapoor as well. As a girl torn between friendship and love, Khushi plays the introvertish Betty to perfection. Already a fashionista with 1.3M followers on Instagram, Khushi embraces Betty’s understated girl-next-door style, which is a perfect foil to the diva-like Veronica.
Janhvi Kapoor’s little sister has also signed up a few projects after The Archies.
Aditi Dot. as Ethel Muggs
Singer-songwriter Dot plays Ethel, who divides her time between school and working at a salon to pursue her ambition of becoming a hairstylist. Ethel is a smart, upright hustler who tries to open Betty’s eyes about the fact that Archie is playing both her and Veronica, and Dot fits the bill as that one friend who has our back. The daughter of Amit Saigal, the founder of Rock Street Journal, Dot has penned the Dear Diary tracks and sang for Betty in Asymmetrical, besides Dhishoom Dhishoom and Sunoh.
Agastya Nanda as Archie Andrews
With his roguish charm and ear-to-ear smile, 23-year-old Agastya Nanda — the third star kid in the group to be launched by Zoya Akhtar — makes quite an impression as Archie Andrews, the school heartthrob whom both Veronica and Betty have a crush on.
Agastya, the grandson of Amitabh Bachchan, has an unassuming quality about him that underlines Archie’s carefree nature as he goes about dreaming of studying in London while flirting with both the girls and then becomes a responsible young adult by joining hands with his friends to save the Riverdale green park.
Vedang Raina as Reggie Mantle
Vedang makes a mark in his screen debut as Reggie Mantle, a compulsive flirt who has his heart in the right place. He turns out to be a rebel with a cause and channels his angst through writing a rousing piece for his father’s newspaper while also dealing with Dilton’s affections for him in a very sensitive way. Vedang’s effortless dance moves, toned physique and naughty smile are a winner. The 27-year-old is supposed to be seen in Alia Bhatt-starrer Jigra, directed by Vasan Bala.
Mihir Ahuja as Jughead Jones
Twenty-five-year-old Mihir Ahuja is the most experienced actor among the young star cast of The Archies and delivers the most assured performance. Mihir drew a lot of attention as Dhruv Jauhari — Mona Singh and Vijay Raaz’s troubled elder son — in the Prime Video web show Made in Heaven Season 2.
As the foodie Jughead, who is intimidated by Veronica and can be lured into spilling anyone’s secret with the offer of food, Mihir has the funniest lines which he delivers with aplomb.
Yuvraj Menda as Dilton Doiley
Dilton is a science nerd and an inventer who wrestles with his feelings for Reggie, and Yuvraj Menda plays him with great ease. Dilton is also someone who drills sense into his friends when faced with a collective crisis. With his acumen for science and knowledge of playwrights, poets and filmmakers, Dilton is a cut above the rest. And the way Yuvraj’s Dilton says ‘Thank you’ is an overload of cuteness.
