
Suhana, Agastya, Khushi gave auditions for The Archies with other ‘normal actors', parents didn't get involved, reveals casting director: ‘Met them directly at the premiere'
When asked whether star kids Suhana, Agastya, and Khushi auditioned for their roles, Karan revealed that all the actors went through auditions. He also clarified that Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, and Boney Kapoor had no direct involvement in the casting process. 'We took several auditions, including star kids and other normal actors as well. Eventually, we did whatever we felt was right. When we were working, we thought we were doing good work. We never thought kaun kiska bacha hai. Zoya aisi hai bhi nahi, didn't think of that while casting,' Karan shared.
He added, 'Be it Bachchan sahab, Khushi, or Suhana's parents, I met all of them at the premiere. They never got involved before that.' Besides these star kids, The Archies also featured newcomers Mihir Ahuja, Vedang Raina, and Aditi Seigal.
ALSO READ | 'Terrible liar' Suhana Khan can't bluff, but believes 'if you do something with confidence, people believe it'
Karan Mally also mentioned that Vedang Raina and other cast members went 'unnoticed' due to the presence of star kids in The Archies. 'Vedang bhi usi mein se nikla hai. He was studying and modelling, got his audition, and he looked like the best fit for the role. In Archies, only these three kids were talked about, but there were so many people who went unnoticed. We tried to match the comic book completely,' he said.
During an interview with Film Companion, filmmaker Zoya Akhtar opened up about the casting of The Archies. She said, 'What I find fascinating is there were seven kids on that (The Archies) poster. Netflix and Tiger Baby Productions put seven kids on that poster, and the media only spoke about three (Suhana Khan, Agastya, and Khushi). And then turns around and tells us about nepotism. Actually, you're the one not giving the other four attention. You robbed their moment and it's heartbreaking to see. Who are you talking to? To us? We've put seven kids out there. You've just ignored four. And you took away their moment. So sorry. Your problem.'

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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Streaming wars in the Gulf: Which platform is most popular among expats?
Shahid VIP and StarzPlay Arabia lead the GCC's streaming race, with driving demand for Bollywood, Arabic, and Turkish content/Representative Image TL;DR: Shahid VIP , Netflix , and StarzPlay remain the most popular streaming platforms in the GCC , catering to diverse language preferences. Regional content production is rising, with Saudi Arabia and UAE leading Arabic originals. Expats favour a mix of global hits and tailored regional content, from Bollywood to Turkish dramas. Pricing, platform availability, and content censorship shape viewing habits across the Gulf . As streaming services boom across the Gulf, expats are spoilt for choice but which platforms are truly leading the pack in 2025? From Shahid VIP's dominance in Arabic content to Netflix's international allure and StarzPlay Arabia's regional strategy, the competition for screens in Saudi Arabia, UAE, and beyond is intensifying. Here's a closer look at the Gulf's streaming wars, who's winning among expats, and how viewing preferences are evolving in the region. Streaming Wars in the GCC: What's Driving Viewer Choices? The Gulf's streaming landscape in 2025 is more competitive than ever, shaped by a growing expat population, high smartphone penetration, and an increasing appetite for both global and regional content. According to DataReportal's 2025 UAE Digital Report, the UAE has over 99% internet penetration, while Saudi Arabia also exceeds 99%, fuelling on-demand content consumption across platforms like Shahid VIP, Netflix, StarzPlay Arabia, and Amazon Prime Video. A report by Statista indicates that over 57% of UAE residents subscribe to at least one paid streaming service, while in Saudi Arabia, the figure is about 48%, reflecting both demand and market potential. The presence of a culturally diverse workforce in the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain drives platforms to balance between Arabic, English, Hindi, and Tagalog content offerings. Shahid VIP and StarzPlay Arabia: Leading Regional Platforms Shahid VIP, owned by Saudi Arabia's MBC Group, continues to dominate Arabic-language streaming in the GCC. In 2025, it boasts more than 3 million subscribers, per MBC Group's March 2025 statement, thanks to exclusive Arabic series, live TV channels, and original productions tailored to Gulf sensibilities. Similarly, StarzPlay Arabia, headquartered in the UAE, maintains its strong foothold with over 2.1 million active subscribers. StarzPlay is favoured not just for its English-language catalogue but also for partnerships that stream Bollywood films, Turkish dramas, and cricket tournaments like the PSL, catering heavily to the South Asian expat audience. StarzPlay's partnership with Etisalat and STC allows for bundled subscriptions, increasing affordability and reach, particularly in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Netflix's Growing Arabic Originals Portfolio While Netflix remains a dominant global player, it has intensified efforts to localise content in the Middle East. In January 2025, Netflix announced an expanded slate of Arabic Originals, including Saudi-produced thrillers and Emirati family dramas. According to Netflix, Arabic-language content consumption on the platform has grown by 40% year-on-year, especially in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Netflix's focus on regional storytelling aligns with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, which aims to elevate local entertainment industries. This localisation strategy has enhanced its appeal among Gulf nationals and second-generation expats fluent in Arabic. The Expat Preferences: A Multi-Language Diet Expats in the GCC continue to shape streaming preferences. South Asian workers in the UAE and Qatar heavily consume Bollywood films and Indian web series on platforms like Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ Hotstar, although access can vary based on local licensing. Filipino expats largely use iWantTFC, a global Filipino content platform, which reports steady growth in GCC subscriptions as of ABS-CBN's 2025 mid-year update. Moreover, Turkish dramas dubbed in Arabic, available on Shahid VIP and StarzPlay, remain perennially popular with Arab and non-Arab expats alike. This cross-cultural appeal helps platforms retain diverse demographics. Content Censorship & Regional Sensitivities One key constraint for streaming services in the Gulf remains censorship. Both UAE and Saudi Arabia have content regulations that restrict or edit scenes involving nudity, LGBTQ+ themes, and excessive violence. According to Arab News, platforms operating in the GCC must comply with National Media Council guidelines in the UAE and equivalent Saudi regulatory frameworks. This leads to edited versions of global shows, though some platforms provide advisory notices on such edits. Such content moderation has not significantly dampened subscriptions, as users weigh content access alongside regional values. Price Points and Platform Competition Pricing remains a decisive factor. As of July 2025, here's a snapshot of monthly subscription fees in the UAE (approximate USD conversion): Shahid VIP: ~$11.49/month (AED 42) StarzPlay: ~$10.35/month (AED 38) Netflix Standard: ~$10.61/month (AED 39) Amazon Prime Video: ~$4.90/month (AED 18) Bundled telecom packages often reduce these costs further. For example, Etisalat's eLife package includes StarzPlay access, while STC offers Shahid VIP subscriptions with specific plans. Trends Shaping the Future of Streaming in the GCC Original Productions: Regional platforms like Shahid VIP are scaling up their original productions, planning to invest $100 million by end-2025, per MBC Group statements. Sport Streaming: With cricket's popularity, StarzPlay and Amazon Prime Video stream matches like the PSL and Indian Premier League , appealing to South Asian expats. Tech Innovation: AI-driven recommendations, localised payment options (like STC Pay), and 4K streaming are becoming standard, enhancing user experience. Cross-Platform Viewing: Smart TV compatibility and mobile-first designs cater to the Gulf's highly mobile user base, where over 90% of streaming occurs via smartphones In 2025, the Gulf's streaming ecosystem is dynamic and expat-driven, yet increasingly regionalised. Platforms that blend high-quality Arabic originals with popular global content are thriving, while telecom bundling strategies keep services affordable. As more Gulf countries invest in media and entertainment, the content landscape is set to grow further, serving a cosmopolitan viewer base that toggles between K-dramas, Bollywood hits, Arabic thrillers, and Premier League football.


News18
an hour ago
- News18
Archana Vs Sidhu: Reddit Debates Who's The Ultimate Judge On Kapil Sharma's Show
Last Updated: Navjot Singh Sidhu returns to The Great Indian Kapil Show after six years, joining Archana Puran Singh as a judge in season three on Netflix. Reddit users debate their preferences. Former cricketer and politician Navjot Singh Sidhu is back on Kapil Sharma's comedy show after a hiatus of six years. Archana Puran Singh had replaced him when Sidhu quit the show in 2019. In the third season of The Great Indian Kapil Show, which is now streaming on Netflix, both Archana and Sidhu were roped in as the judges, promising double laughter. However, Reddit has an opinion on who's a better judge. A Reddit user took to the platform to mention that Archana Puran Singh is no longer funny and is instead missed in films. The user is of the opinion that Navjot Singh Sidhu's one-liners and shayaris on the show is funnier. This created a debate on the platform, with netizens joining in the thread and sharing their opinion of the same. In the comment, a netizen agreed to the post and wrote, 'Honestly I miss Archana the actress, she was so fabulous in Shreeman Shreemati as Prem Shalini." To this, another added, 'And De Dana Dan Loved her there torturing Akshay -gold." Others added to the comment thread naming some of her best works. 'She is there to be the punching bag of kapils jokes and laughing at his cringiest jokes so that when they see her laughing even audience should laugh even if it's not funny," opined another. Yet another user said, 'I recently started following Archana Puran Singh and her family's YouTube videos. It's a LOT less cringe than Kapil Sharma and the dynamic among the family members is very cute." Some differed from the initial discussion post. A netizen wrote, 'I find Sidhu more annoying. The show itself has became irritating but good for Archana she is earning banks. She is there to give cue to the audience that they have to laugh, just like how older shows had laugh track. I don't mind her but ofcourse her actual talent which is acting especially in comedies is getting wasted. But her journey is quite interesting, She has survived in the industry for so long doing different gigs." Yet others said, 'I find Sidhu very irritating", 'I don't like Sidhu that much and like archana more than him". View this post on Instagram A post shared by Netflix India (@netflix_in) Some also felt Sunita Ahuja, Govinda's wife, should replace Archana on the show. In conclusion, both Archana Puran Singh and Navjot Singh Sidhu bring their own fan base to the show. While some favour Archana, others prefer Sidhu's presence. Why do you think is the better judge on the show? First Published: July 20, 2025, 13:06 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.


Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Ajay Devgn had to rescue Deepak Dobriyal on Son of Sardaar 2 set after a woman pulled him to ladies washroom: ‘He plays a woman in the film'
In Vijay Kumar Arora's upcoming action comedy Son of Sardaar 2, Deepak Dobriyal plays a woman. His act was so convincing that people on set actually believed he was a woman in real life. On the latest episode of The Great Indian Kapil Show on Netflix, the film's cast narrated hilarious stories of Dobriyal's experiences on set. Dobriyal's co-star Sanjay Mishra recalled when he saw Kubbra Sait on the set for the first time, he felt relieved that spending time with a 'beautiful woman' would make the experience worth it. 'Khoda pahaad, nikla Deepak Dobriyal,' said Mishra, adding, 'He'd kept everyone on set entertained. They were extra good to Deepak.' The film's lead actor, Ajay Devgn, then revealed Deepak Dobriyal plays a woman in Son of Sardaar 2. 'He makes a beautiful woman, surprisingly beautiful,' said Ravi Kishan, adding, 'He looked like a proper woman. Half of the set was gaga over him. All the tall, foreign henchmen standing behind me were gaga over him.' He even revealed a 6.5-feet Sardar man was even willing to marry Dobriyal. 'The way he made him look, the way he carried himself, he was on a roll for the 40 days of shoot,' added Kishan. Devgn revealed Dobriyal never used to change out of his woman's clothes and wig even when the cast went out for dinner after pack-up. He naturally got the most attention. 'There was a party that evening. My hotel was quite far. The restaurant was in the middle, so I'd end up travelling an hour each side. So I just went there as I was,' explained Dobriyal. Mrunal Thakur, the film's leading lady, confessed she would blush looking at Deepak Dobriyal dressed up as a woman. 'He'd enter the men's washroom dressed as a woman. And we'd stand outside anxiously wondering what would happen to him,' she said. 'The men started screaming,' added Devgn, laughing. Dobriyal then recalled how a woman, who accidentally entered the men's washroom too, held his hand and took him along to the ladies washroom, assuming he's a woman. Devgn had to intervene and say, 'No no no, he's a boy!' Son of Sardaar 2 is a sequel to Son of Sardaar, which was released in 2012. Son of Sardaar was helmed by Ashwni Dhir, and starred Devgn, late actor Mukul Dev, Sanjay Dutt, and Sonakshi Sinha. It revolved around Jaswinder 'Jassi' Singh Randhawa (Devgn), who returns to his village in Punjab after spending years in London to sell his ancestral property, but things take an unexpected turn. The film emerged as box office hit and grossed Rs 161.48 crore with its worldwide collection. Also Read: The Po Po song returns in Son of Sardaar 2 but without Salman Khan; fans call it a masterpiece, praise Ajay Devgn's dance moves Son of Sardaar 2 is produced by Devgn Films, alongside Jyoti Deshpande-led Jio Studios, NR Pachisia, and Pravin Talreja. The cast also features Vindu Dara Singh. It's slated to release in cinemas on August 1.