N : Nepotism in Hindi Films / Bollywood #AtoZChallenge 2019

There are some issues that cut both ways. Nepotism is one of them. Here are few things I wanted to say on this subject. 

1. It exists in Bollywood. Period. And it exists in other industries too. How are Ambani kids any different from Yash Chopra's actor son?

Uday Chopra - He failed

Ambani Kids - will survive despite failures

2. In other industries, if a job is given to someone referred by higher ups, that person can survive and grow without talent to some level. But in Bollywood, if you don't have talent, you can't survive just because your father is a big superstar or have bags full of money. Sunny Deol was immensely successful as an actor while Bobby Deol has struggled throughout despite having good looks and better dancing skills. (as compared to his elder brother and father only) 

Deol Family

3. Nepotism provides access but doesn't guarantee success. Raj Kapoor had three sons. Randhir Kapoor did some good work. Rajiv Kapoor never tasted success of any kind. But Rishi Kapoor turned out to be a huge star and an actor par excellence. It would have been a great loss to viewers, if he wasn't given a chance because of some misplaced notion of righteousness. 

Raj Kapoor with his wife and sons

4. When a producer / star  makes a film for the sole purpose of launching his kid, it is a vanity project and not nepotism. Because that film wouldn't have been envisaged if the kid didn't exist. There is no opportunity lost for an outsider in this case. Alternatively, if a producer / star is casting for a script already in place and chooses an actor because of his / her lineage and not based on an audition, it is a clear case of bias. I don't think any outsider is envious of Fardeen Khan's debut film Prem Aggan. His career never took off. And no one in his right senses would have made a film like Prem Aggan for an outsider.  

Fardeen's debut film

5. Let us also understand that films are hard work. They might look glamorous from outside but it is not everyone's cup of tea. Even after all these years, there are only 5 - 7 sale-able stars in India. 

• Shahrukh Khan (an outsider)
• Salman Khan (a successful writer's son whose debut film was not bankrolled by his father; but it is important to note that both his brothers, Sohail and Arbaaz got rejected as actors)
• Aamir Khan (a successful producer's son; I would have never wanted him to do anything else)
• Ajay Devgn (a stuntman's son; Is it even nepotism? I think he is successful because of his grit)
• Akshay Kumar (an outsider)
• Ranveer Singh (an outsider)

It is clear, that your destination isn't really determined by who your parents are.

6. Vicky Kaushal has become darling of current generation of viewers. The reasons are very clear. He is hard working. He is talented. He has made right choices of roles and films. He has built his career on his own. By the way he is son of action director Sham Kaushal. Does it change your views about him?

Vicky Kaushal in Uri

7. If nepotism gives us actors like Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt (both of them seem like winners of a genetic lottery) and if we get actors like Irrfan Khan and Kangna Ranaut because of their struggles; I don't mind if this debate never settles. 

Merit always wins!

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My theme for this year's #AtoZchallenge is Hindi Film Industry / Bollywood cliches. You can read the theme reveal post here.

2017 Challenge Post from Letter N: Nagpur - A post about many firsts of my life in the city of Nagpur. Click here to read. 

2018 Challenge Post from Letter N: Never Ever - A listicle about the things you will never ever do. Click here to read.