Bollywood’s nepotism debate simmers eternally. Star kids snag dream debuts and hype machines, outsiders hustle for scraps. Powerful lineages—from Roshans to Kapoors—have scripted cinema’s narrative.
Stars like Shraddha and Ranbir soared; others crashed. Frustrated newcomers decry the insider advantage stifling fresh talent.
Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri, unflinching commentator, dissected the issue via a potter’s poignant metaphor. He champions viewing nepotism positively when rooted in prowess.
‘Fundamentally benign,’ Agnihotri stated. If a craftsman’s son spins superior pots, grant him the clay. It’s akin to apprenticeships in any trade—doctors begetting doctors, artisans breeding masters.
Yet, he slammed the dark side. Nepotism morphs into malice absent merit. ‘Disaster strikes when the heir botches every vessel, fragments flying. Despite this, he’s handed prime clay and kilns, while superior potters idle. That’s the poison infiltrating the craft.’
This earthy explanation bridges divides, validating support systems while demanding talent trump ties. Bollywood must heed: invest in sturdy matkas, not fragile facades.
Agnihotri’s insight could catalyze change, urging a merit-driven renaissance where family name amplifies, but never supplants, skill.