The persistent debate about nepotism, insiders versus outsiders, has flared up again with recent projects like Nadaaniyan and Zoya Akhtar's The Archies facing scrutiny. In a candid response, acclaimed filmmaker Zoya Akhtar has directly addressed the issue, providing her viewpoint on the actual workings of the Hindi film industry.
'The Industry is an Infrastructure, Not a Room'
In a widely circulated clip from The Swaddle podcast, Zoya Akhtar challenged the common perception of the film world. She urged people to stop viewing the industry as an exclusive room where one is either inside or outside. "The industry is an infrastructure. Anybody can do what they want. Anybody can make a film. You can come in here, you can do what you want," she asserted.
Akhtar suggested that much of the frustration labelled as exclusion is often misplaced. "A lot of people complain that they are not in the industry. But they're actually complaining because they're not in a Dharma film. You understand?" she clarified. She emphasized that the desire to act is separate from industry access. "It's not about not being in the industry. You want to act? You can act. And if you're acting, you're in the industry."
Statistics Show More Stars Emerge From Outside
Supporting her argument with broader observations, Zoya pointed to the consistent influx of talent without filmi backgrounds. "You actually look at the statistics, every year more people who become stars are those who come from outside Mumbai, and from outside the industry, so to speak," she stated.
She noted that these successful individuals were not born into the business. To illustrate her point, Akhtar shared her own journey and that of her collaborator. Despite her film family lineage, it took her nearly seven years to direct her first feature. In contrast, her long-time business partner and co-writer Reema Kagti, an outsider from Assam, made her directorial debut earlier.
Addressing 'The Archies' Backlash and Trolling
Zoya Akhtar had previously touched upon the intense criticism faced by the young, debutant cast of her film The Archies during an appearance on Komal Nahta's podcast Game Changers. She defended the actors' talent and expressed her willingness to collaborate with them again.
She took full responsibility for the film's creative choices. "What I felt terrible about was that they were newcomers. I auditioned them. We gave them the roles. A very professional crew dressed them. There were all the best names in the business involved," she explained. Akhtar acknowledged the harsh online environment, stating, "They just did what I asked them to do. I didn't like the fact that they were being almost bullied." She admitted to feeling guilty but said the cast asked her not to, concluding that the backlash was ultimately her responsibility as the director.
Through these comments, Zoya Akhtar reframes the nepotism conversation, shifting focus from a binary insider-outsider dynamic to a more nuanced view of industry access and opportunity, while also highlighting the very real challenge of online trolling faced by newcomers.
