Nepotism 1

Recently Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut opened a can of worms and blamed noted film Producer/Director/Actor Karan Johar as he is the leader in promoting Nepotism in Bollywood. Nepotism is an old age problem in every sphere of Indian field for ages and what Kangana has said is very true for Bollywood. It is very true if you are son/daughter/nephew/niece of some celebrity or star in Bollywood then your entry to Bollywood become easy and you do not have to struggle. The struggle for an outsider to get a foot hold in the Bollywood is tremendous, and still it is not guaranteed that whether he/she will be successful.  Now if you have entered through nepotism, even if your first movie does not do well, you may get multiple chances to prove yourself, but in other case if your first movie flops then you are doomed. If one enters through nepotism, then one is not affected by casting coach syndrome. Recently Saif Ali Khan (who is son of actress Sharmila Tagore and cricketer Pataudi) that in certain cases it is in the genes of the person to become actor. My question to Saif would be why he never chose to be cricketer, because he must have found that entering in Indian cricket team even through nepotism is also difficult, as you have to prove your self first in domestic cricket and then afterwards based on your performance you are chosen for national cricket team. So he must have realised becoming film star through nepotism is easier. In his case he was given multiple chances to prove himself and it took him almost 5 years to get some foot hold in the industry. But in case of his sister Soha Ali Khan, for almost  a decade she got multiple chances but she could never succeed, Saif she also had a same genes like yours, then what happened to her career!!!!!

In brief , I am discussing some cases, where people entered through nepotism and how they performed.

1. Kapoor Family- Prithivaj Kapoor was drama artist who forayed into films in 1930s. His son Raj Kapoor got the entry being Prithiraj’s son, but he proved himself from his first film and soon became Actor/Producer/Director and studio owner, and became the biggest showman of the Bollywood. But his brother Shammi Kapoor got multiple chances to prove himself, because he was Prithviraj’s son and Raj’s brother, till he established himself. Same was  the fate of Raj’s other brother Shashi Kapoor, he also got multiple chances. Raj Kapoor Son Randhir was launched as actor/director  but he could never established himself, although he must have worked closed to 15 years, Raj’s other son Rishi Kapoor became famous from the first film and he established himself successfully and till date he is working as character artist, the youngest son Rajeev Kapoor got multiple chances but  he failed. Shashi Kapoor’s Children Kunal, Karan and Sanjana also tried but they failed. Then Randhir Kapoor’s daughters Karishma and Kareena entered  the Bollywood  and they also established themselves and the same was the case of Rishi’s son Ranbir Kapoor who is today’s leading actor. Kapoor family is the only family in Bollywood where most of the members are connected with Bollywood but all were not successful.
2. Dev Anand’s son Suniel was launched with big fan fare but he failed miserably.
3. Aamir Khan is the son of Producer Tahir Hussain and was launched by his uncle noted Producer/Director Nasir Hussain, but his brother Faisal Khan was also launched by family banner but he failed. Aamir Khan’s nephew Imraan Khan was launched by him but after some initial success he also faded away.
4. Salman Khan is the son of writer Salim Khan(Salim & Javed fame), who after some initial hurdles proved him self, but he was not launched by his family, he struggled and was launched by out side banner. But Salman’s brother Arbaaz and Sohail although they got entry because of Salman, but as an actor they were not successful  even after many chances, so in the end with Salman’s blessing they became Producer/Director.
5. Actor/Producer/Director Rakesh Roshan’s son Hrithik was launched in a big way and he became very successful.
6. Producer Harry Baweja’s son Harman  was launched in a big way but after couple of films with his then girl friend Priyanka Chopra, he faded away. Same was the case with Jackie Bhagnani, who was also a son of Producer.
7. Producer/Director Yash Chopra’s son Aditya became director, and similarly Producer Yash Johar’s son Karan Johar also became director, both with their father’s blessings and they got ready made banner of their fathers.
8. Sunil Dutt’s son Sanjay, and Rajendra Kumar’s son Kumar Gaurav were launched in family banners, while Sanjay succeeded but Kumar Gaurav failed.

Above are the few example, where people entered through nepotism, some succeeded and others failed, so nepotism guarantees you entry but it is  talent and hard work which gives you success.

Now let us see some of the stars who never entered Bollywood through nepotism:

1. Shat Rukh Khan- He was working in TV serials of Door Darshan, and originally a product of stage. Through his hard work and good PR he reached the pinnacle of success.
2. Akshay Kumar- He was model and through that field he entered  Bollywood, by sheer hard work and his dare devil actions he found the  success.
3. Ashwariya Rai, Sushmita Sen, Priyanka Chopra, Lara Dutta, Dia Mirza, Neha Dhupia entered the Bollywood through Miss India paegent, and all of them created their space in the Bollywood.
4. Kangana Ranaut was small time model in the northern part of country, from where she entered the Bollywood and reached at the top as brilliant actress, through shher hard work and her talent.
5. There were other models like Kabir Bedi, Arjun Rampal, Milind Soman, Vidyut Jamwal, Rahul Bose, Rahul Khanna who were not very successful.

So there are people who enter the Bollywood of their own with lot of struggle, some succeed and some do not.

In the end my inference is that by nepotism a entry is guaranteed and even after initial failures you may get another chance, but in the end it is talent and hard work which brings you success. But in the case of an outsider, he or she may not get second chance to prove  his or her talent.

In the next blog I will discuss nepotism in politics

What you say my friends.

Awaiting your feed backs and comments.