Bollywood typically keeps discussions involving the N-word quiet. Bollywood is not the only business or profession where nepotism exists; occasionally, however, the country is thrown into controversy as a result of the industry.
Though many star kids, such as Sara Ali Khan, Ananya Panday, and Janhvi Kapoor, have straightforward starting points and numerous opportunities, there are others for whom the bloodline formula didn’t really work out, including Uday Chopra, Tanishaa Mukerji, Shamita Shetty, Adhyayan Suman, and Sikander Kher, among others. Here are the opinions of some well-known Bollywood figures on nepotism in business and how it affects the industry.
1. Emraan Hashmi
Emraan Hashmi claims that he is a product of nepotism. After the release of the movie Footpath in 2003, his uncle Mahesh Bhatt gave him his big screen debut. If nepotism didn’t exist, he claims, he wouldn’t have become an actor.
While talking to Hindustan Times about Nepotism, Emraan Hashmi said, “Yes, nepotism exists in our industry, and I got a break because of it. If my uncle (Mahesh Bhatt), who is a producer and director hadn’t been there, I wouldn’t have been an actor.”
2. Ayushmann Khurrana
Ayushmann Khurrana, who has over the years developed a specialised fan base, claimed that if nepotism didn’t exist, he would have made his acting debut at the age of 22. While talking to Huffpost about Nepotism, Aysuhmann said, “My debut, Vicky Donor, was when I was 27. If I was a star kid, it would’ve been 22. I don’t think the difference of five years would’ve affected much. I think I was a much more mature actor at 27,”
3. Rajkummar Rao
Rajkummar Rao, who has previously carved out a distinction for himself with his versatility in roles, claimed that nepotism forces him to watch performers who lack talent.
While talking about Nepotism, Rajkummar Rao told PTI, “Favouritism is there of course, it is present everywhere, so it is fine. But my only concern is when because of favouritism I have to see non-talented people in films. That is a problem for me. I want to see talent on screen. I don’t care where they come from or which family they belong to. There are actors like Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt, they are such talented people working in the film industry,”
4. Kangana Ranaut
As Kangana Ranaut referred to Karan Johar on his chat show as the “flag bearer of nepotism,” the topic of nepotism in Bollywood garnered attention. The occurrence caused a commotion in the sector. Discussions on the subject have continued ever since. During a chat show, Kangana said, “Do these Bollywood kids know that it takes almost 10 years to build an audience and to get a critic. These star kids already start from a point where they have everything and they are not aware of the fact that for an outsider, it can take his entire lifetime to reach the starting point.”
5. Ananya Panday
Ananya Panday, who made her acting debut in Student of the Year 2, acknowledges that star children enjoy special privileges. While talking about N-word, Ananya told HT,“I feel like it’s easy to get your first film but after that sustaining is the tough part… talent really speaks at the end of the day,”
6. Kriti Sanon
Kriti Sanon stated that a celebrity kid once took her position in an interview with Pinkvilla. While discussing how nepotism has impacted her career, Kriti, who made her debut in the 2014 movie Heropanti, said, “If I had been from a film family, I would not have to reach out” (to directors).
While sharing her experience of being replaced in a film, Kriti said, “I don’t know if they dialed the phone or not, but someone, who was from a film family or there was a little more buzz about that person, had replaced me. So yes, it’s happened but I don’t know the reason behind it. The director might have genuinely wanted that person. It has happened a few times.”
7. Taapsee Pannu
The well-known responsible film actress Taapsee Pannu once remarked that she was denied opportunities because she wasn’t so-and-so’s daughter. “It is not a shocker to me that a film went out of my hands, not because I was not credible, but because I was not so-and-so’s daughter or sister or dating so-and-so,” Taapsee Pannu told PTI. “I used the same hand to pat my back and to pick me up when I get shattered after losing out on a film due to reasons except your credibility to that role,”
In a separate interview, she said, “I have stopped looking at it like a victim. I have accepted it as a rule of the game and I am trying to make my way despite the hurdle which is what I’m doing,”
While claiming that she was replaced in Pati Patni Aur Woh without being given a reason, she told Mumbai Mirror “I assumed I was the first choice since the director had narrated the script to me first. After moving my dates around, it would’ve been better had they told me first, instead of finding it out from others. This is disheartening. I deserve an answer,”
8. Ranbir Kapoor
Being a product of nepotism himself, Ranbir Kapoor also acknowledges that he is a product of it. He informed the AIB comedy group, “I am a ‘disarming’ product of it. Of course it exists.”
“My great-grandfather worked hard so that he could give his children the opportunity to do something in life. So on and so forth and it came to me. When I have children, I would like them to have that opportunity and then see how good they are,” he added.
9. Alia Bhatt
In Bollywood, nepotism is a reality, according to Alia Bhatt. If outsiders don’t receive the one opportunity, they deserve to showcase their talent, she claimed it’s only normal for them to feel dejected.
In an event, she opened up about nepotism and said, “I wanted to be here (in films), this was my dream. My connection to the family has made things easy for me. Nepotism exists. It exists in Bollywood, the business world and during admissions in schools as well,” In a separate interview with Indian Express, she acknowledged how devastating it is to be on the other side. She said, “I would be heartbroken if I were on the opposing side.”
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