Is Nepotism Killing
Bollywood? Sumita Chakraborty looks deeper into the ‘one happy family’ façade that Bollywood presents to reveal the rotting truth that’s plagues the film industry. Bollywood has always portrayed itself as one big fat happy family for years… like one of those Sooraj Barjatya films hamesha soppily saath saath. So even though there were those occasional whispers that the so-called truce and good friends act by two superstars are just that – an act. …Or Bollywood’s bonhomie ‘we are good friends’ facade between heroines, actors, directors, filmi families hide many an ugly tale of steamy affairs, nasty fracas or scandal ‘n’ shame… still the film industry carries on like they are a huge khandaan of happy souls Until Sushant Singh Rajput’s horrific suicide opened up a rusty can of squirming worms that Bollywood from aeons was trying to sweep under the carpet. Of course, the fiery Kangana Ranaut had not only addressed the white elephant in the room a couple of years ago, she also spilled the beans about Bollywood’s closeted “closed door policy for outsiders”. Kangana had at that point belittled the so-called “flagbearer of nepotism” Karan Johar on his own show ‘Koffee
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With Karan’, making him pout in sheer disdain and of course, later blacklist her from all his social gatherings. All the Kapoors and Bhatts followed suit and did the same – though they mouthed sweet nothings to the media about the firebrand ‘Manikarnika’ actor, in reality, they cold-shouldered her too. But of course, the indefatigable Kangana continued fuming and letting out her steam via her sister Rangolis’ vitriolic tweets but of course, to no avail. It was like Shakespeare’s famous lines ‘told by an idiot full of sound and fury’. So Bollywood’s fiefdom continued to reign supreme and the perennial story of the haves and have-nots continued. The star kids were served everything – from the best films, big banners, meaty lead roles, hefty endorsements to magazine covers - on a golden platter while the outsiders had to make do with the leftovers which are barely anything. Of course, there was a rumble of dissatisfaction from the outsiders, but it always fell on deaf ears.