Nepotism: [nep-uh-tiz-uhm] patronage bestowed or favoritism shown on the basis of family relationship, as in business and politics. I am not questioning your knowledge by giving a definition, but some people, including myself did not really know the meaning of the word.
I was tempted to create this post because I feel that Bollywood is evolving for the worst. The new zenith of introducing "young star kids" has really made me upset, disappointed, and to some extent, even angry. I miss the period when Bollywood was filled with pure talent and with people who made big on their own, without any support of a godfather or family relatives. That was the period of 80s and 90s. Today, every other day or so, I get to read news on Pinkvilla and other websites that "oh, a new star kid is being introduced, yet again."
I have nothing against these "star kids" but I have a problem with our Hindi movie directors not considering anyone out of the film fraternity. My friend spent 2 years running around in Mumbai looking for everything and anything to get a break in Bollywood. These star kids have no absolutely nothing, maybe just shed a few pounds and go to an acting school.. and they have a film lined up. The funny thing is that New York Academy School has become like a home away from home for these "star kids."
Let me give you some names to show what I mean: Sonam Kapoor, Rhea Kapoor (became a director/producer), Ranbir Kapoor, Karishma & Kareena Kapoor, Parineeti Chopra, Esha Deol, Raima & Ria Sen, Bobby & Sunny Deol, Abhishek Bachchan, Shraddha Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Arjun Kapoor, Hrithik Roshan, Zayed Khan, Amrita Arora, Sonakshi Sinha, etc.. (the list is way longer than this.. but you get my point).
The "new" & "young" generation of "star kids" that are waiting to be introduced: Jhanvi Kapoor, Tiger Shroff, Athiya Shetty, Sara Ali Khan (someone said, "why do you need law degree to do acting"), and Shananya Kapoor (call me a stalker, but this girl had a picture of a camera on FB with a quote, along the lines of "acting is my passion".. btw, she is Sanjay Kapoor's daughter). These "star kids" only see the glitz and the glam, and ofcourse the money and the idea of wearing fashionable designer clothes.
I have nothing against these actors, I think some of these "star kids" have done outstanding cinema and superb acting. My entire point is the fact that WHY THEM? Why not someone who is trying and trying to meet the director, running around doing auditions after audition, or someone who is spending his/her savings trying to meet the needs of living in an expensive city like Mumbai, just so S/he can get ONE chance at bollywood.
The case of nepotism became quiet apparent when Mahesh Bhatt opted for Shraddha Kapoor for Aashiqi. Didn't the film-makers say that there will be an "audition" for the role? I am sure that many of your friends probably tried out for the role.. but what happened? I saw some pretty darn good auditions myself on youtube.. but were those people selected? No. Why? because they stand a chance against these "star kids."
It would be such a fresh of breath air when a new "ordinary man" is introduced in Bollywood, someone who is affiliated with any Bollywood actor, director, etc. Trust me guys, I am not hating on any of the "star kids"!! They are blessed to have parents as actors, but that does not mean that they have to ENTER or be introduced to us. I always wonder how come these "star kids" have no other ambitions? Plus, they are super young.. Athiya Shetty is 18 (correct me if I am wrong). I feel the parents are robbing these children of their childhood and innocence.
Acting does not run in blood or genes.. acting is hard work and the ability to experiment with different cinema by exploring different emotions each time. I just wish the idea of nepotism would stop and hopefully some ordinary person would be given a chance.
I have been meaning to write this post for so long, but felt like today was a good day since we got another news of Athiya and Tiger Shroff coming in a new movie....
An excellently written and a very important post !Well done!Every rule has its exceptions. Similarly for every untalented starkid there is a hugely skilled actor. Actors like Kareena Kapoor,Karisma and Ranbir Kapoor,Hrithik Roshan,Rani Mukherjee,Kajol,etc.,.would have succeeded even without a godfather because of the fact that they possess talent and charisma.On the other hand there are the untalented ones like Sonam and Sonakshi who're in the news not due to their films but due to the name of their parents.Thank god for Amitabh Bachchan, SRK,Aishwarya Rai,Vidya Balan,Katrina Kaif,Akshay Kumar,Anushka Sharma and Priyanka Chopra who've succeeded even without neopotism & gave outsiders in Bollywood some hope. not jealous of these people I'm just angry as to why its only them who must get the chances?There might not be substitues for the talented actors who're actually famed for their body of work,but there are thousands of other young girls and boys who want to see their names in posters up there,& stand outside the director's office everyday,hopibg to nake it big.And unfortunately the director goes and pickd up on a chubby teen and asks him to lose weight,groom himself/herself and then start shooting for a film in few days. Neopotism is everywhere but Bollywood is the baap of unfair neopotism. I salute Bollywood for its unprecedented and never ending egocentrism and self obsession:-(
ReplyDeleteAlso why bring up Katrina's name here?She might be a bad actress and an okayish dancer but she's extremely beautiful,a nice person who does not take ill of her co-actresses,hard working,disciplined and whether you like it or not a GIGNATIC STAR OF PARAMOUNT PROPORTIONS whose films are massively successful and who is hugely popular throughout the country.I'm not even her fan but when ppl say that she became what she is because of Salman I find it laughable. Salman dated many women through his life,but are all of them as successful as Kat?You can hate her but never face the bitter truth.
There are many newcomers in bollywood and yes, producers- directors are giving a lot of new freshers chances, but these freshers couldn't create a buzz, fan -base / media hype or gain popularity among public . So its unfair to blame the producers/ directors.
ReplyDeleteSome examples of outsider/new-comesrs are below: DO YOU REMEMBER THESE NAMES?
1)Gulshan Devaiya (The GIRL IN YELLOW BOOTS)
2)Pooja Gupta (Ms India Universerve 2007), movie name : FALTU :opposite Vasu Bhagwani
3)Sarah Jane Dias : Game (2011)
4) Pyar Ka Punchnama : Complete team, 3 new guys, 3 new girls
5) Nargis Fakri (Rockstar )
6)Elena (Barfi, yet to be released)
7) Gulraaj Randawa (Yamla Pagla Deewana)
8) Kajal Agarwal (Singham)
9) Imran Zahid (Murder 2)
10) Tia Bajpai (Haunted 3 D)
11) Zoa Morani ( ALWAYS KABHI KABHI)
12) Monica Dogra DHOBI GHAT
13) Preeti Desai SHOR - IN THE CITY
14) Sulagna Panigrahi in MURDER 2
15) Poorna Jagannathan - DELHI BELLY
16) Amy Jackson (Ek Dewana Tha)
17) Esha Gupta (Jannat -2)
18) Pulkit Samrat (Bitoo Boss)
19) Monikana Dutta (Guzarish)
20) Trisha Krishnan (Khatta Meeta)
21) Amrita Puri (Aisha)
22) Shiv Pandit (Shaitain)
23) Naseeundin Sindaqui, /Huma Quereshi : Gangs of Wasyepur
These were only the past 2-3 years. Every year, you will see 15-20 new faces being launched into bollywood. Producers -directors are giving chance for new people to prove their talent . But apart from a handful like Kangna Ranut, Anushka Sharma, Ranveer Singh, none have been able to sustain. Now when a actor isn't popular or well known in audience after 2-3 films, why would directors cast him over again and again? They will look for someone whom the audience recognizes rather then try and experiment over and over .
Well done for writing this post
ReplyDeleteAleast someone got a great point!
Totally agree with this 100%
Trust me everything has been changed a lot
It's like a looking for a job from unemployed person
Where they are not getting job offers as no experience for them
Which I am suffering due to this
I am so disappointed the whole world is changing
Its getting harder and tougher
Why do you want to stop at the Bollywood fraternity. Look at politics -- the Gandhi's; the Deora's; Thackery. The list goes on and on. Look at the medical profession -- children of doctors become doctors. Or the legal profession. A former Chief Justice of India's son is a judge and his sons are lawyers. India is not a meritocracy anymore.
ReplyDeleteYes star kids may have it easier to break into the industry, but they still have to prove themselves! I think Karisma's name should not even be on the list. Yes she is a 'star kid' but she had to work her butt off to prove herself, at the time when everyone thought that Kapoor girls were not allowed to act. She had to go through so much criticism and scrutiny to reach the top, and it was her reputation as a professional, talented and hard working actress that paved the way for Kareena. There are many who tried and failed despite having talented parents. Take Twinkle and Rinkie Khanna, both flopped as actresses despite having the amazingly talented Dimple and Rajesh Khanna as parents. A star surname may open a few doors, but it's only with real talent that you can walk through those doors and make a success of the opportunity given to you. I do agree though, more struggling outsiders need to be considered...there are so many gems out there who are not even looked at!
ReplyDelete10 years ago, Bollywood was not as lucrative as it is today. Now with the investments from Hollywood big studios and corporations, the stakes are very high indeed. The mega stars of Bollywood easily make a LOT OF money, very comparable to their Hollywood counterparts, who do fewer movies, do not dance at weddings and do not do as many endorsements. Its extremely lucrative to be in Bollywood right now, money is literally flying there, and all these chubby star kids, all they have is do drop a few pounds, and voila fame and fortune comes a-knocking! Most of them are not even that good looking, terrible at dance and acting and audience could very well do without them.
ReplyDeleteYeah, they have a kind of ring going on which no one can enter. Its only once in a blue moon someone like Anushka gets a break, and in her case mostly because she already was a model. May be the talented boys and gals trying to enter Bollywood should post videos on youtube like Bieber and see if anyone spots them. Then again, considering its Bollywood, and talents does not matter at all, no one probably will. Bollywood right now can do very well without Sonakshi, Shradhaa kapoor, Sonam Kapoor etc. Imagine all those movies going to talented newcomers who I am sure will do absolute justice to the roles.
OK Guys I think we are reading too much into this STAR KID invading Bollywood.
ReplyDeleteLast 5 years actors who were introduced have been a fair mix of both star-kids and non star-kids.
Non star-kids........
1. Deepika Padukone (got a high profile launch)
2. Anushka Sharma (got a high profile launch)
3. Ranveer singh (Didn't get high profile launch)
4. Kalki Koelchin (Didn't get high profile launch)
5. Asin (Didn't get high profile launch)
Star kids or relatives.........
1. Sonakshi Sinha (got a high profile launch)
2. Ranbir Kapoor (got a high profile launch)
3. Arjun Kapoor (Didn't get high profile launch)
4. Parineeti Chopra (Didn't get high profile launch)
I think girls still have better chances than boys if they are Bollywood outsider to make it.
Producers and Directors need to take chances with non star kids. High time
Screw these stupid Star Kids who can't act to save their lives unlike the talented ones. I hate the Kapoors and Deols with a burning passion and I refuse to see any of their movies
ReplyDelete