The nepotism storm in Bollywood refuses to die down. Insiders glide into spotlight projects, backed by star power, while outsiders battle for breakthroughs. Iconic families have shaped Hindi cinema for decades, producing hits and misses alike.
Success stories like Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor shine bright, but flops remind us that lineage alone doesn’t guarantee stardom. Outsiders’ grievances echo loudly: prime offers bypass them despite superior skills.
Director Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri, voice of reason amid chaos, reframed the conversation with a folksy tale of the potter and the pot. Speaking frankly, he rejected blanket condemnation of nepotism.
‘It’s natural and positive,’ he emphasized. Picture a potter whose son inherits the art, crafting flawless earthenware. Why deny him a shot? The same holds for professions worldwide—family expertise paves legitimate paths.
But Agnihotri warned of the tipping point. Nepotism becomes venomous sans skill. ‘Imagine the son who mangles every pot, cracking under pressure. Yet, he’s propped up, funded lavishly, while queued talents with steady hands go unnoticed. That’s when it poisons the well.’
His insight cuts through polarization, advocating merit as the ultimate filter. In an industry craving fresh narratives, Agnihotri’s stance calls for reform: leverage networks wisely, but crown competence king.
This potter’s parable might just reshape how we view Bollywood’s family fiefdoms, pushing for an ecosystem where pots—and careers—stand on their own strength.