The famous freckle-face now has a crush on a desi mem. Archie, the good old Riverdale kid, will be romancing a fictitious Bollywood diva in the next issue of the comic series, and its creators are excited about introducing the new Indian character.
“We are big fans of Bollywood and enjoy Indian films. I thought it would be fun to reference it directly,” says Archie Comics publisher and Co-CEO, Jon Goldwater. The new edition has Archie and his music band touring India, where the carrothead is smitten by a Bollywood heroine to add to his already infamous Betty-Veronica love triangle. “Her name is Amisha Mehta, and she’s a popular actress and singer. Very beautiful, and she finds herself attracted to Archie, but not quite as intensely as Valerie of Josie and the Pussycats,” says Dan Parent, the writer-artist for the series.
The two even perform on a Bollywood set. While you can’t help but think if the part is inspired by Ameesha Patel, the team says it’s not based on any particular real-life actor, and then there’s already another Patel in the series — Archie’s friend Raj.
Why another Indian addition, then? “India and Asia are very interesting places. It’s very colourful and the landscape and the culture lead to fun and interesting storytelling,” explains Goldwater. What about stereotyping concerns and controversies yet again? “Riverdale has always been a safe and inclusive place where everyone is welcomed and treated equally ... we have had no controversies and I don’t anticipate there will be any regarding future storylines,” says Goldwater.
{{/usCountry}}Why another Indian addition, then? “India and Asia are very interesting places. It’s very colourful and the landscape and the culture lead to fun and interesting storytelling,” explains Goldwater. What about stereotyping concerns and controversies yet again? “Riverdale has always been a safe and inclusive place where everyone is welcomed and treated equally ... we have had no controversies and I don’t anticipate there will be any regarding future storylines,” says Goldwater.
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