How the Debate Has Matured Post-Pandemic
Bombay – 2025
It was once the word that shook Bollywood to its core.
“Nepotism”—a conversation that escalated from drawing-room discussions to prime-time debates, celebrity feuds, and digital boycotts. But as India naviged a pandemic, a streaming boom, and a new wave of cinematic voices, the discourse around nepotism has undergone a quiet recalibration.
Today, the film industry is no longer battling nepotism with outrage. It is negotiating it withnuance, transparency, and alternative routes to recognition.
The Flashpoint That Started It All
The tragic death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput in 2020 served as a catalyst, igniting nationwide anger against Bollywood’s insider culture. The critique wasn’t limited to casting—it extended to cliques, PR machinery, and the invisible barriers that separated industry-born actors from outsiders.
In the years that followed, the Hindi film ecosystem was forced toreckon with its own insularity.
Post-Pandemic: A Changed Playing Field
The pandemic paused theatrical releases and allowed the OTT space to flourish.
Streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and SonyLIV becamegateways for talent, not gatekeepers. Suddenly, actors with theatre backgrounds, regional roots, or zero filmi connections became headline makers.
- Jaideep Ahlawat (Paatal Lok)
- Shefali Shah (Delhi Crime)
- Shreya Dhanwanthary (Scam 1992)
- Medha Shankar (12th Fail)
…all rose to prominence not through legacy, butthrough performance and platform visibility.
Networking > Nepotism?
The current landscape suggests a key transition:
While nepotism may still exist, it isno longer enough. Audiences, critics, and platforms now demandproof of talent.
In many ways, the word “networking” has replaced “nepotism” as the morepractical reality of modern Bollywood. The focus is shifting from “who launched you” to “who discovered you and why.”
Today’s actors and technicians—regardless of lineage—are expected to:
- Build credible portfolios
- Understand audience dynamics
- Work across mediums (film, series, theatre, digital content)
- Leverage social presence authentically
Even those with industry surnames, such asAlaya F,Ibrahim Ali Khan, orShanaya Kapoor, are treading more cautiously—often debuting in niche or OTT projects to test acceptance before theatrical release.
The Audience Has the Final Word
The most critical transformation lies in the hands of the viewers.
A post-pandemic Indian audience is more informed, less forgiving, and increasingly drawn to:
- Original storytelling
- Layered performances
- Cultural specificity
Flops likeLigerandThe Archieshave shown thatsurname-backed releasesare no longer bulletproof.
Meanwhile, the success of films like12th Failproves thatword-of-mouth, relatability, and humilitynow matter more than dynastic debut launches.
Where Do We Go From Here?
Nepotism is no longer the villain—it’s onecharacter in a complex narrative.
The conversation has matured. So has the audience. So has the industry.
Talent is finding its way. And when it does, the surname becomes footnote—not foreword.
