Death of Sushant Singh Rajput has evoked a massive debate on the social networking platform about banning star kids, for being undeserving and still bagging projects compared to outsiders who have excellent acting chops. Now, this reminds us of those Bollywood actors who fearlessly spoke about the existence of nepotism in the industry when they too faced it, causing a hiccup in their career. The list includes Kangana Ranaut, Taapsee Pannu, Kriti Sanon, Swara Bhasker, Ayushmann Khurrana, Rajkummar Rao and Siddhant Chaturvedi.
First up, Kangana Ranaut, who pointed out this harsh reality on Karan Johar’s chat show, Koffee With Karan, where she called him the flag bearer of nepotism. In conversation with Anupam Kher in a chat show, she had 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.”
Next is Taapsee Pannu, who too lost a film to a star kid, without being discouraged, she continued working hard and now is one of the most bankable actresses in the cinematic world. As per reports in PTI, she had said, “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. 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.”
Dilwale actress Kriti Sanon also spoke about facing this situation a few times in her career, when she was replaced by star kid. She was quoted saying by Pinkvilla, “If I had been from a film family, I would not have to reach out (to directors). I don't know if they dialled 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.” ALSO READ: Sushant Singh Rajput Death: Kangana Ranaut Talks About 'Emotional, Psychological, And Mental Lynching'- Watch Latest Video
Swara Bhasker being one of the actresses who is pretty vocal about her opinions on several things, did agree of the industry being star-driven, however, she mentioned the journey for an outsider being difficult. “Bollywood as an industry is based on relationships, it has always been star-driven and it has an element of feudalism. So, it would be difficult for an outsider but my experience of Bollywood is not nepotistic at all,” she told PTI.
Actor Siddhant Chaturvedi who rose to fame post-Zoya Akhtar’s Gully Boy, during the Rajeev Masand’s Newcomer’s Round Table mentioned where outsider’s finally achieved success in their career, star kids happen to start their career at that particular point. He was applauded for his outspokenness by the audience. He said, “Jahaan humaare sapne poore hote hai, waha inke struggle shuru hote hai.” ALSO READ: Sushant Singh Rajput Death: After Calling For Actor's Contract Copies YRF Head Aditya Chopra May Be Summoned By Mumbai Police To Record His Statement
National Award-winning actor Ayushmann Khurrana too had mentioned in his interview with Huffington Post, if he had been a star kid, he might have debuted in Bollywood at the age of 22 and not 27. “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,” said the actor.
And lastly, Rajkummar Rao sharing his take on the existing issue mentioned though he doesn’t have issues to see star kids perform, his only concern when they happen to be non-talented ones. In conversation with PTI, he said, “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 the 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.”
Image Source: Instagram/team_kangana_ranaut/rajkummar_rao/taapsee