Shilpa Shetty Kundra: Nepotism can’t be bigger than your fate
Whether it is talking about his career in Bollywood or the way the industry functions, actor Adhyayan Suman doesn’t mince words. And as the voices against nepotism and favouritism in showbiz have gotten louder since Sushant Singh Rajput’s death, Adhyayan — the son of actor Shekhar Suman — admits that he has experienced it, too
Without naming anyone, he reveals, “I met this big producer-director who’s in this controversy right now. I wanted to work with him; he used to make careers. It has been nine years, he hasn’t picked up my calls. I met him in Los Angeles (US), and was scared to walk up to him, thinking I haven’t done well in life... My friend said, ‘Just say hi’. I said to him, ‘I just want to come and meet you’. My point was at least meet me, hear me out, don’t shut the door on my face.” Though the said person gave the actor his number and asked him to call any time, the 32-year-old claims he hasn’t got a reply till date. “Nine years, he never answered. He reads my messages, but doesn’t reply. That frustration built... I thought maybe I’m not good enough or not good enough for him. Then I thought
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Rana Daggubati shared a picture with his father Suresh Babu (far left) and actor-uncle Venkatesh Daggubati, captioning it: “Ready!!”. Rana tied the knot with ladylove Miheeka Bajaj at the Ramanaidu Studios in Hyderabad, in Telugu and Marwari traditions. And in line with lockdown norms, there were reportedly around 30
ggressive attendees. PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/ discussions RANADAGGUBATI
about the unfair practices prevalent in the Hindi film To each to his industry seem to have
own. I’m not become the new normal, with terms such as nepotism, somebody insiders vs outsiders, level
who judges a playing field being used Kunal feels everywhere — from social person with media to prime-time debates Shreya Mukherjee
opinion. on news channels. Actor Shilpa Shetty Kundra SHILPA SHETTY mid debates about camps audience cares acknowledges the anger that KUNDRA ACTOR in Bollywood, actor Preeti many are feeling towards the Jhangiani agrees they film industry, and she says she exist and, at times, obstruct respects the various opinions talent. While it’s difficult to on the matter. can’t be. We all come with our deal with, she insists it isn’t about merit, not legacy
“There’s a lot of pent up destiny. If you have the immpossible either. “It depends anger in people. And I feel the strength and will power to oon how you are as a person. Kunal only place to vent it out is fight and put in that amount Groupism exists at every place Kapoor social media. Most of them are and work, no one can stop you of work. I’ve done a few multi
faceless; those who have the from achieving success,” the starrer films and faced it. Navneet Vyasan merit”. “Almost all billionnow looking “inwards” and face and strength have spoken. 45-year-old asserts. These gangs try to throw you
dollar tech companies have “are finally telling stories To each to his own. I’m not The actor goes on to share out of Bollywood. And it eing from the industry been created by people who true to us”. This thought somebody who sits and judges that there’s something which aaffects those who’re sensitive. can only take you so far. didn’t come from big reflects in his debut film as a person who has an opinion,” has kept her going all these But, I didn’t pay much heed,” Eventually, audience is corporate families... You see well which was directed by says the actor, adding that a years and helped her not ays Jhangiani, who made only interested in what you it in our politics, too. And the late art legend MF person’s opinion “may or may become hopeless. “You need to hher Bollywood debut with bring to the screen, not you definitely see it in movie Hussain. “It was a very not be someone else’s reality”. realise that it may take time MMohabbatein (2000). whose son, daughter or industry,” he says, adding unconventional movie to While talking about her and not most people have that The 39-year-old also relative you are,” says actor that it is unfair to single out a debut with. Hussain sir was Bollywood journey which much strength or patience. I’m agrees that those born in Kunal Kapoor, 42, talking particular industry. truly special... Very few started with Baazigar in 1993, a Sai baba bhakt and I always
fih film hand. families “If one have has grown an upper up about the nepotism debate The Rang De Basanti people have a mind like his, Kundra says she has no say that ‘shraddha aur saburi’ that has engulfed Bollywood. (2007) actor feels that with and make the sort of impact complaints. Despite the ups is what’s most important. One inn those circles, they’re
The actor, who debuted OTT platforms, “audiences that he did. He was curious, and downs and being a true has to have faith as well as aalready friends with that with Meenaxi: A Tale of are exposed to so much enthusiastic, spontaneous blue outsider, she says she patience. There’s nothing in ddirector or producer. They Three Cities (2005), feels that content from across the and a creative force. The life achieved a lot. “I’ve really the world that can be wwill get two-three one only has to look at their world, which is why you lessons I learnt from him relied on fate. I came from a unachievable,” she says, opportunities to start their
PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/ JHANGIANIPREETI surroundings to realise that have to push the envelope to will stay with me forever,” non-film background and I before adding, “Now that’s my people “are not as interested grab their attention”. He recalls Kapoor. worked very hard in my life. If point of view, not everybody in legacy as they are with adds that filmmakers are navneet.vyasan@htlive.com someone says that nepotism is has to agree with it.”
■ bigger than fate, I’d disagree. It juhi.chakraborty@htlive.com
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BAAmaybe I’m good, just not successful, that’s why the calls weren’t answered,” he adds.
Despite having the socalled connections in the industry, the actor preferred to go his own way. He further says that it’s a wrong notion that only outsiders have to struggle.“This casting woman I used to go to, she’s a big name... I never got any work, but once they called me, spoke about my teeth, nose, hair. I said, ‘I’m an actor, talk about what you want me to perform first. Sixpack abs kar lenge. Can I get the scene you want me to audition?’ I never got that opportunity,” he tells us.