Hansal Mehta enters nepotism debate, lists 'elephant in the room' & ways to reduce 'filth'

The nepotism debate has once again come to the forefront in the aftermath of Sushant Singh Rajput’s death. Netizens have been lashing out at some of the big names of the film industry, most of them from 'film families', amid speculation of favouritism and campism for star kids being responsible for Sushant allegedly being ousted from numerous films. The online abuse has been so much that some of the notable names have gone off Twitter and turned off comments on Instagram. 

READ: Manoj Muntashir Shares Message For Budding Actors, Asks Them To Not Be Afraid Of Nepotism

Hansal Mehta also waded into the controversy on Monday and felt the debate need to be ‘broadened.’ The director gave an example that his son ‘got a step in the door’ because of him. However, the young one being his son was not the only reason for him to get the opportunity, as his qualities of being ‘talented, disciplined, hardworking and having similar values’ were the reasons, the filmmaker wrote.

The Aligarh artist shared that he may or may not produce films for his son, but whether he succeeds or fails, will depend only on his talent. Mehta shared that the 'father’s shadow' will be his ‘biggest benefit and greatest bane.’ 

READ: Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor & Ananya Panday Limit Comments Amid Anger Over Nepotism

According to him, people don’t address the ‘elephant in the room’ in the debate on nepotism, and 'belittle the real battle', which was between 'powerful and the rising', 'old and new', 'rigidity and change' and 'secure and insecure.' 

The National Award-winning filmmaker felt it was a misconception that 'PR, imaging, paid media and gossip' were essentials tools for 'survival.' He claimed that media was using the ‘insecurities and aspirations’ and that giving the media ‘talent’ will help accomplish the 'change.' Mehta claimed that instead of the obsession over ‘gym looks’, ‘airport looks’, if talent started doing the talking, the ‘filth’ in the industry would go away.

Here are the tweets

As a netizen pointed out that the debate was about the talented not even getting opportunities, Mehta replied that it was ‘nobody's fault’ that his son gets the chance. However, even the ‘privilege’ has to be earned to be inherited, he wrote.

Meanwhile, ‘nepotim products', as netizens have been calling the stars of the film families, Salman Khan, Sonam K Ahuja, Sonakshi Sinha, Shahid Kapoor, have been at the receiving end of criticism. Netizens have been digging out old videos and reports of theirs related to Sushant, to target them. 

READ: Sushmita Sen Discloses What She Focused On To Survive Nepotism In Bollywood; Read Here

READ: Chirag Paswan Alleges Sushant Singh Rajput A Victim Of 'nepotism & Groupism'; Seeks Probe