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Favoritism in Bollywood: Reality or just a perception?
Nepotism isn’t new in the film industry. But rarely do big names touch upon the subject. And when they do, it sets tongues wagging. That’s what happened when actor Kangana Ranaut recently labelled filmmaker Karan Johar the ‘flag bearer of nepotism’. Did she attack him for launching star kids Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt? Or for casting those close to him? Is favouritism really rampant? Such questions had social media abuzz. Here’s taking industry views.
“Not that star kids are not talented, but the opportunities they get are far easier, projects far bigger and the budget for their films is huge. So it’s not a level plain field,” says actor Huma Qureshi. Actor Richa Chadha admits being called an ‘outsider’. “People forget to realise that sometimes those not born in the fraternity attract more work from overseas because of their talent. But back home, we are not welcomed or valued the way we should,” she says.
Earlier, Shahid Kapoor’s wife, Mira Rajput, had said on KJo’s chat show that she doesn’t like how nepotism is a common practice in Bollywood. Actor Taapsee Pannu had also tweeted, “Nepotism. Finally LEARNT the MEANING of this word. Now will learn to deal with it.” Actor Prachi Desai calls Bollywood “a large family business”. “There were films for which I was considered but some star daughter’s fathers called the producers and I was dropped,” says the Rock On!! (2008) actor.
Soon after Kangana’s remark about KJo, star kid Alia Bhatt had defended herself, saying that she didn’t plan her birth in the Bhatt family. Sonam Kapoor agrees. “The top heroines today - Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra - are both women who aren’t from the industry. And are you telling me that Alia Bhatt is where she is because of her family and not because of her talent?” she had said earlier. Many others feel that not all of them get the desired platform. “We work hard without depending on our fathers’ success. Rather it’s more difficult for a star kid to establish himself,” says veteran actor Dharmendra’s son, Bobby Deol.