Riverdale is undoubtedly one of the most popular TV shows being watched by people around the world (thanks Netflix and Colors Infinity). The dark and twisted Archie, Jughead, Betty and Veronica have fascinated us all… and Jughead and Betty’s coupling – popularly known as ‘Bughead’ – has already spawned fanfiction and photoshop edits. But how can we forget the iconic love triangle? While the show in general hasn’t really focused on Betty, Archie and Veronica’s romantic entanglements as of now, Bollywood has already replicated Archie’s dilemma in various movies through the years.
Here are five Bollywood movies which have had a cute and well-meaning but confused man-child; a sweet, pretty and vanilla girl-next-door; and a super-hot ‘new’ girl who is rich, hot and a heart breaker. Basically, a love triangle that fans of Archie Comics would be proud of! Check out our list.
1) Sanjay – Anjali – Devika (Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar)
Before Aamir Khan‘s Sanju from Model college ‘pulled the chain’, he was a part of a pretty epic love triangle, comprising of his childhood best friend Anjali and the hottie from Queens college, Devika. Ayesha Jhulka, who played Anjali, also helped her father in the garage (like Betty does) and was often the voice of reason in Sanjay’s (desi Archie’s) life.
Pooja Bedi, on the other hand, was the rich, gorgeous new girl in town who stole every man’s heart – but was drawn towards Sanjay. She dumps him, though, and of course Sanjay realizes that Anjali was his true love all along. Dehradun transformed into Riverdale in this Mansoor Khan movie. Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar also had a Reggie Mantle in the form of Shekhar Malhotra (played by Deepak Tijori). Perfect!
2) Rahul – Anjali – Tina (Kuch Kuch Hota Hai)
Karan Johar has admitted in various interviews and his biography that he wanted to make an Indian version of Archie comics, and he did exactly that with the first half of his directorial debut, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. Rahul, played by Shah Rukh Khan, was the harmless flirt who was good at sports (BASKETBALL) just like Archie. Kajol‘s Anjali was the sporty, intelligent and helpful Betty (with quite a temper) and of course, Rani Mukerji got her big break as the pretty, rich, popular and Om-Jai-Jagdish-singing Tina, Karan’s take on Veronica.
Even the college principal, Mr Malhotra (Anupam Kher), was a fitter version of Mr Weatherbee. (A lot like the one in the Riverdale TV series; he’s far more grim, though). Ms Briganza (Archana Puran Singh) totally seems to be the real inspiration behind the hotter and younger Ms Grundy in the new Riverdale series. Basically, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai influenced CW’s Riverdale in more ways than one. (This is strictly my opinion)
Side note – Ayesha Jhulka and Kajol have been named Anjali and both play variations of Betty in the respective adaptations. Anjali, pyaari Anjali.
3) Rajiv – Payal – Alisha (Ishq Vishk)
Okay, this movie literally looks like it was adapted from a story in one of the various Archie’s Double Digests. While Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar had a cycle race in the climax and is often referred to as a ‘sports film’, and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai went on another direction post interval, Ishq Vishk stayed true to its genre and stuck to the problems of a young heart. Shahid Kapoor played the sweet, talented but insecure Rajiv; Amrita Rao (who was born to play Betty) was his secretly-in-love-with-him childhood best friend, Payal; and Shenaz Treasurywala played the sexy new girl in college, Alisha.
There’s a version of Jughead in Ishq Vishk too: he’s called Mambo (Vishal Malhotra). In this movie, Payal and Mambo get closer after Rajiv dumps her. You know, a lot like Betty and Jughead in the TV series.
4) Raj – Pooja – Tina (Mujhse Dosti Karoge)
Kareena Kapoor was meant to play Veronica Lodge. Everything about Bebo screams Ronnie. It’s a pity she got to play a role she was destined to enact in such a bad movie. Hrithik Roshan was an annoying Archie and Rani Mukerji was an extremely boring Betty in Kunal Kohli‘s Mujhse Dosti Karoge.
There is something seriously wrong with a film if Uday Chopra‘s presence actually makes it better.
5) Jai – Aditi – Meghna (Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na)
Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na focused more on the friendship between the mild-mannered, kind and funny Jai (Imran Khan) and the feisty tomboy Aditi (Genelia D’Souza). But his relationship with the pretty and girly Meghna (Manjari Fadnis) was a lot more genuine than the comics or the above mentioned movies had portrayed.
Even their break-up seemed more real than the ones shown in other adaptations. Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na also dealt with domestic violence, marital problems and insecurities… you know, again, like the TV show I am completely obsessed with.
Riverdale is basically an amalgamation of Bollywood movies based on Archie Comics!
Honourable mentions – Cocktail and Dil Toh Pagal Hai.
P.S. – Archie has ALWAYS ended up with Betty in all these versions. Do you think the same will happen in Riverdale? Or will Betty and Jughead remain the main ship of this show? Tell us what you think in the comments below.
Riverdale airs on Colors Infinity (instant premieres) every Friday 7pm.