Javed Akhtar, the renowned writer-lyricist of Bollywood, believes that Agastya Nanda, the grandson of legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan, has the potential to become the next big thing in the Hindi film industry. In a recent interview, Akhtar expressed his admiration for Agastya’s talent and described him as the brightest new star since Rishi Kapoor emerged on the scene over fifty years ago.
Agastya Nanda: A Refreshing Change in Bollywood
Akhtar stated that Agastya represents a refreshing alternative to the current trend of “macho, toxic” heroes in Bollywood. The young actor made his debut in the Netflix film “The Archies,” directed by Akhtar’s daughter, Zoya Akhtar. According to Javed Akhtar, “The Archies” caters to audiences of all ages, from seven to seventy. He recounted an incident from the film’s premiere where an elderly lady was moved to tears, reminiscing about her youth when she was an avid reader of the Archies comics.
The Appeal of Bollywood Icons’ Offspring
Javed Akhtar acknowledged that casual moviegoers are naturally drawn to films featuring the offspring of Bollywood icons. Alongside Agastya, “The Archies” also stars Suhana Khan, daughter of Shah Rukh Khan, and Khushi Kapoor, daughter of the late Sridevi. Unfortunately, their performances in the film did not receive positive reviews. However, this has not altered Javed Akhtar’s opinion on Agastya’s potential as a superstar. He expressed his confidence, saying, “Your son is going to be a star,” referring to Shweta Bachchan Nanda, Agastya’s mother. Akhtar believes that Agastya embodies an unpretentious and innocent hero, a character rarely seen since Rishi Kapoor’s iconic role in “Bobby.” He is convinced that Agastya will captivate the younger generation, particularly girls.
“The Archies”: A Mixed Bag of Reviews
“The Archies,” despite its star-studded cast, has not been well-received by audiences. The film also features several other newcomers, such as Dot., Vedang Raina, Mihir Ahuja, and Yuvraj Menda. Directed by Zoya Akhtar, “The Archies” has emerged as her least-liked feature film so far. However, Javed Akhtar’s contribution to the movie cannot be ignored. He penned several original songs, while dialogues were written by his son, Farhan, and his daughter-in-law Shibani Dandekar also served as a co-lyricist.
Final words: Agastya Nanda, truly a rising star?
Javed Akhtar’s belief in the immense potential of Agastya Nanda is unwavering, despite the mixed response to “The Archies.” He sees in Agastya a hero who breaks the mold of the present-day stereotype prevalent in Bollywood. The young actor’s innocence and authenticity are reminiscent of Rishi Kapoor’s iconic role in the film “Bobby.” With his debut performance, Agastya is already getting attention from the audience for his charming looks and decent personality. But only time can tell if Agastya Nanda may very well be Bollywood’s next big thing.
