Rajkummar Rao recently opened up about losing a film role to a star kid in an interview with Karan Johar and co-star Janhvi Kapoor, while promoting his new film Mr. and Mrs. Mahi, produced by Johar. During their conversation, Rao discussed the challenges he faced early in his career due to nepotism in the film industry. He recalled an incident where he was abruptly replaced in a film by a well-known star kid, which he found unfair. Despite this setback, Rao emphasized that he chose to move on and focus on his work. ALSO READ: Mr And Mrs Mahi Trailer OUT! Did You Spot MS Dhoni's Cameo In The Trailer Of Rajkummar Rao-Janhvi Kapoor's Film?
Karan Johar, addressing the ongoing nepotism debate, commented that some people use the topic to gain attention. He expressed skepticism about the notion that missing parties could lead to losing film roles, a claim often made by outsiders. Johar remarked, “Sometimes they are using it as a tool to make headlines. Immensely successful people are saying, ‘Oh I felt victimized like an outsider and lost opportunities to a star kid’. Somebody is saying, ‘I didn’t attend a party so I didn’t get a role.’ I don’t know at which party there have been transactions for films.” ALSO READ: Mr & Mrs Mahi: Rajkummar Rao Shows 'Cricket Balls' On Janhvi Kapoor's Red Hot Dress And It Is Absolutely Creative - WATCH
Rao responded by sharing his experience of being advised to attend parties for networking when he first arrived in Mumbai. He said, “Making contacts is not a problem, but going to a party and saying, ‘Hi I am here to make contact.’ But having said that, I was supposed to do a film, but then suddenly I was not in that film overnight. Somebody who is known and happened to be a star kid got that part. In my mind, I think it was not fair. Just because you can control things, you know people, you can make some calls, it is being unfair. That film never got made eventually. That guy was an insider, but he could have also been an outsider who is successful and could do the same to you.”
In a previous interview with Ranveer Allahbadia, Rajkummar had also spoken about losing a film to an outsider and acknowledged the role of nepotism in his replacement. He mentioned that although it seemed like karma that the film was never made, he preferred to move forward without dwelling on the incident.
Rajkummar Rao is currently enjoying the success of his recently released film Srikanth, which premiered on May 10 and has been performing well at the box office. The film has garnered praise from several notable figures in the industry, including Ranveer Singh and Akshay Kumar. Singh lauded Rao’s performance on social media, while Kumar suggested that Rao should start offering acting classes. In Srikanth, Rajkummar portrays the visually impaired industrialist Srikanth Bolla, showcasing his versatility and dedication as an actor.
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