The debate between Karan Johar and Kangana Ranaut rages on as the topic of Bollywood nepotism was brought up once again. Previously, Kangana had guested on Karan’s chat show, Koffee with Karan, and declared the director “intolerant of outsiders, the flag-bearer of nepotism in Bollywood and movie mafia.” The director denounced such accusations, saying he had never helped his family into Bollywood.
. . . Intolerant of outsiders, the flag-bearer of nepotism in Bollywood and movie mafia.
However, a video has now surfaced showing Karan admitting the prevalence of nepotism within Bollywood. In a video from 2014, rumoured to be from The Front Row with Anupama Chopra, Karan says:
“I picked up a chubby girl [Alia Bhatt], I saw something…And maybe the fact – I can’t lie – maybe the fact that she was Mahesh Bhatt’s daughter also excited me. I don’t know. Right now, I want to say no, but at that point it may have been a very strong fact. If that is nepotism, then definitely, I am guilty.
Would I have cast Varun Dhawan had he not been David Dhawan’s son? Because he was David’s son, he was on the sets as an AD (assistant director) and spent enough time for me to understand that he can be a movie star. A lot of factors determine movie stardom in our country and I think true talent is the least of them.”
Would I have cast Varun Dhawan had he not been David Dhawan’s son?. . .A lot of factors determine movie stardom in our country and I think true talent is the least of them.
The feud first began when Kangana, whilst promoting her new film Rangoon, said to Karan: “In my biopic, if it is ever made, you will play the stereotypical villain. One who is intolerant of outsiders, the flag-bearer of nepotism in Bollywood and movie mafia.”
Karan allowed her to say her piece then delivered his own thoughts, refuting the claims that he aided nepotism within Bollywood. Karan, who has directed a plethora of Bollywood classics, both new and old, was the son of Yash Johar, so it cannot be denied than an element of nepotism went into his own career.
Yet the Bollywood darling denied getting any of his own relatives into the industry and added that he had debuted 13 directors with no ties to B-town. He also hit out at Kangana in a scathing remark:
“I am done with Kangana playing the woman and the victim card. You cannot play a victim every time with some sad story to tell. If the industry is that bad, just leave it.”
