20 January,2024 11:55 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
The Archies
A widely shared clip online, from Luck By Chance, Zoya Akhtar's debut directorial, is superstar Shah Rukh Khan's cameo in it, where he gives life's lessons to the lead character (Farhan Akhtar). Given The Archies marked the acting debut of SRK's daughter, Suhana Khan, did Zoya ever get SRK over to the set, for a Chak De India type pep-talk, to a full team of debutants?
"No. That is supposed to be my job! I have worked with Siddhant Chaturvedi, I have worked with various newcomers, you don't call in someone and say, 'Give them a pep talk'. You just don't do that," Zoya said during Mid-day's Sit With Hitlist conversation.
Did SRK ever visit the sets, or see the rushes? "No," Zoya was emphatic.
That pep-talk in Luck By Chance was essentially about never leaving behind those who've known you from before success/stardom - when it appears that you've probably moved ahead. Zoya said, "Shah Rukh, as a person, typifies that. I think he is quite rooted, his old friends are still his friends, the people that gave him a break, the people that stood by him, he stands by them."
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Besides Suhana Khan, The Archies marked the film debut of Agastya Nanda, Khushi Kapoor, Vedang Raina, Mihir Ahuja, Aditi "Dot" Saigal and Yuvraj Menda. Zoya reveals that the newbies had "some aptitude" and then were trained where they learned to sing and dance, etc. "They went into dance space and stuff, but the thing is, you also know if there is some aptitude or not... They trained also, they learned how to do things," she said.
What if someone doesn't learn, despite the training? "Then you have to recast," Zoya said.
Each of Zoya's films has a single idea behind it. Luck By Chance is about self-esteem. Dil Dhadakne Do is about projecting. Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara is about Carpe Diem. What is The Archies about?
"Idealism. Simpler times... Less is more times. What do we value? What is ideal, what is good for our soul, what are the things that should be valued? I think idealism. And it is it's also that age when you are a teenager where you think you can change the world," she explained.
