Guru Purnima special: When nepotism took a back seat and Bollywood mentors chose talent over surnames

In a industry in which controversies surrounding nepotism are never-ending, Bollywood has been conjured as a relative term. With children of big stars continuing to have access to Bollywood, the news is not all bad either because the film fraternity can boast of dozens of filmmakers who dismissed the importance of surname and believed in talent without the genealogy. A number of stars today started their careers not because they had the connections related to their family but because mentors saw something special in them.

The filmmakers did not just cast the newcomers but they also nurtured them, tested them, and helped develop their career in cinema.

One of the most striking examples is Yash Chopra who was the key man in the career of Shah Rukh Khan. When Khan entered the world of Bollywood after his television success story, he had no background in films, nor did he have support from any film insider but Chopra was able to spot his great intensity and charisma. The films Dar, Dil To Pagal Hai, Veer-Zaara, and Jab Tak Hai Jaan established Khan’s image of a classic romantic hero.

At the same time, Farah Khan bet on Deepika Padukone to be cast as the heroine opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Om Shanti Om. Launching a completely new actress in one of the year’s biggest movies was a bold decision, but Deepika’s performance in the movie vindicated Farah’s trust in her. Today, Deepika is considered one of the most successful actors in our country and abroad.

Luv Ranjan also needs to be praised for putting his trust in Kartik Aaryan even when the actor was mostly unknown. Pyaar Ka Punchnama made the public aware of Kartik’s great sense of humor, while Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety made him a star actor. In the world of Bollywood of well-known surnames, Kartik’s rise can be regarded as one of the biggest success stories of the outsiders.

Another filmmaker who always looked for unusual choices is Anurag Kashyap. His movies have always been an excellent place for actors more talented than good-looking. Anurag gave Rajkummar Rao one of his first roles in Gangs of Wasseypur Part 2.

No discussion regarding talent discovery can be complete without the mention of Vidhu Vinod Chopra. His film “12th Fail” has taken Vikrant Massey to the next level of popularity as a lead star who is able to take the responsibility of the whole film on his shoulders. Vikrant may have already started receiving good reviews on television and other OTT platforms, but Chopra’s faith in him has gifted the audiences with one of the greatest performances in India in recent times and has reiterated the fact that great storytelling is all about great casting.

Another example is Abhishek Kapoor, who made Sushant Singh Rajput a leading hero through his film “Kai Po Che!” Although the actor was successful on television, we hear numerous stories of talents failing to switch from television to movies. Kapoor found out Sushant’s sincerity and emotional depth, which later made Sushant one of the most successful actors of his generation.

Another one who has earned the name of being able to find actors who suit the character rather than following the popularity of actors is filmmaker Shoojit Sircar. His work with actors like Ayushmann Khurrana in “Vicky Donor” and Vicky Kaushal in “Sardar Udham” reflect a belief that honesty in casting often produces the most memorable performances.

While it is true that nepotism is alive and thriving in Bollywood, I cannot also ignore the point that each generation has produced filmmakers who have been willing to take a chance on raw talent alone. This is why it can be said that everyone has benefited from the industry’s biggest mentors, who have not hands-on made them famous, but have dared to open doors for their hard work.

The actors were able to get careers, but they had to spend years proving themselves in the industry. It could be said that they had to reinvent themselves constantly, as well as be really hard-working and stubborn.

The reality of the decades-long debate is that no matter how much you are helped, you still have to strive for it.