Does K'wood play favourites?

If my biopic ever gets made, you would be the flag-bearer of nepotism,” Kangana Ranaut told Karan Johar on his talk show recently and it opened the floodgates yet again about how nepotism exists in the Hindi film industry. With actors like Varun Dhawan, who happens to be the son of successful director David Dhawan, stating that there is no nepotism, to Karan Johar’s contradicting opinions on the subject, every day, we find one actor or the other commenting on the issue. The situation in Kollywood, though is rather quiet. We do have a fair mix of both star-kids and self-made actors who have made a mark for themselves in the industry, and the issue of nepotism has almost never risen here the way it has up north. We talk to members from the industry for their take on this.

For actor Shanthnu Bhagyaraj, it has not been an easy path in films. “It is true that star kids easily get a chance to debut, but the film needs to  work too. If it works, we become overnight stars, but if it fails, then we have to work more than a person who is coming from a non-film background,” he explains.

Actor Arjun, who himself was a star kid, explains how some of the actors opt to enter the industry just out of sheer pressure. “Even though my father was a famous villain in Kannada cinema, I never wanted to become an actor. I learnt martial arts and every other skill just to become a cop. But I was dragged into the industry, even though I wasn’t trained as an actor. So yes, even though I didn’t want it, I was given an easy access to films.”

Arjun’s daughter Aishwarya forayed into films four years ago. He says that there is pressure on actors and actresses as they are constantly compared to their parents. “Take the case of Abhishek Bachchan. He is a supremely talented actor who has been  under-utilised just because people expect him to be a replica of his father. That is the mentality of people, not much can be done about that. But yes, the fact remains that there are a lot of talented actors who lack the access they deserve.”

Actor and film historian Mohan Raman is of the view that the audience as a whole have never had a problem with nepotism, even in Bollywood. “I don’t think the audiences really have a problem with actors coming from influential families.

The only ones who are raising concerns about nepotism in Bollywood are the Twitterati, who cannot be considered as the pulse of the audience as a whole. If that was the case, the blockbusters of the last two years would have been entirely different, right?” he asks.

“Anyhow, it is true that nepotism exists in every industry, not just cinema. If you write a will, it will be for your children, and not the neighbours right? That is how everyone works. It is true that having a film background does help in giving them a debut, but it does not ensure success. We ourselves can see how many starlets failed to have a rosy career despite their surnames. Talent still reigns supreme when it comes to surviving in cinema,” Mohan Raman adds.

Shanthnu’s views differ in this regard, saying that market forces, rather than talent decide the way actors’ careers pan out. “Now, the industry only wants to bank on the mass value of an actor and get business out of it. People keep telling me, that I have everything that it takes for entering that league. But the same directors are not ready to take the risk and propel me into that league. So, it is not easy for someone from a film background either. If it clicks, you are fine. If it doesn’t, you have to go through a lot of trouble,” he shares.

Actor Guru Somasundaram, who has given memorable performances in films like Joker and Jigarthanda opines that the tides are changing in Tamil cinema and favouritism no longer holds ground like it used to. “Favouritism won’t help in the long run. Especially when it comes to arts, it doesn't hold water at all. It is like parents cuddling their young ones. But if the actor realises the seriousness of the art and puts in an effort, they can succeed here. Also, Tamil cinema is changing for good now. There is a revival of interest towards genuine actors.”

Actress Rakul Preet Singh, despite her non-filmy background, has made a mark in the South Indian film industry, and says that talent is not deprived of chances because of nepotism. “I was never refused an opportunity due to nepotism. The industry never fails to identify good talent.” The actress, having worked with both — actors from affluent film families, to self-made stars — says that difference in attitude or treatment comes down to how the actors are, personally. “All star-kids don’t necessarily come with airs around them and sometimes actors who have taken the tough route too have attitude problems. I don't think their family background really has a part to play in their behaviour.”
 (Inputs from Kirubhakar Purushothaman)