Deluging Bollywood with obloquies over nepotism will never heal the same ailment inside us. Also, do we have just one institution exemplifying anti-nepotism?
The Late Sushant Singh Rajput’s concluding release Dil Bechara is receiving a wide range of appreciation for many reasons. Firstly, being his last film and secondly, for his outstanding performance. Though, sympathy overpowered the skill. But utmost, it freshened the rage of his fans over Bollywood’s practising ritual of nepotism. There are reviews coming like- it’s called a performance, no star kid could have pulled it off as successfully as Sushant did.
Amongst star kids, however, there are tremendously excellent actors who have proven themselves on the big screen. Here in Bollywood, skill and talent are always on the back seat of popularity and favouritism. Leave any institution apart, no human is detached from prejudices except a minute proportion. These exceptions are not sufficient to marshal the whole business of an institution. Of course, there are very fine actors in the industry but unfortunately not so popular.
Popularity is a prime incentive for a filmmaker. For the obvious reasons: no popularity, no audience and hence no money. This popularity is either gained by years of struggle or simply by taking birth to a star. In our cruel, selfish world one can bear the loss only if made by their close ones and not by a stranger. By the same logic, we all are practising nepotism every day in some way or the other.
Nepotism adheres to a negative connotation and is supposed to have no place in secular societies. But, the rational choice theory which states that an individual relies on rational calculations to make rational choices is adulated in almost every organisation. The irony lies here. Both, nepotism and rational choice theory, have indistinguishable motivation for selfish interest. This relation in them may astonish and leave a jaw-dropping effect over us but it’s as chronic as other maladies are.
Umm, Even Families Have Nepotism
Nepotism also has a ubiquitous aura spreading its wings over a number of spheres of influence apart from entertainment like- sports, politics, educational institutions etc. It is so well deeply rooted that even families have become victimised.
There is a child in every family who is favourite of both the parents or at least one of them. Though other children will be loved ,that child will have access to special treatment. It may be either because parents have expected a lot or the child is very obedient to them. Whatever be the reason. Truth is, a child is being fed to the parents’ starved ego. Which is very materialistic and does not fall under the category of affection. Despite this, no family ever complained about nepotism.
Look at the family functions and weddings where invitation cards are sent to relatives and known ones only. Why no card to that ragpicker who keeps your colony clean but lives in a slum? While, for making arrangements for food the preference is always given to the cook who is well-known in the city or the one whom we are familiar with and not to any random one.
So, if someone dares to exterminate this practice and make surroundings free from this evil, your family is certainly the best place to start from.
Within Bollywood itself, there are people marked as outsiders often sound fishy over nepotism. When asked about nepotism in Bollywood, in an interview given to Neelesh Mishra (a lyricist and host of the show Gaon connection), the famous director Anurag Kashyap said that he believes someday he would become a nepotist too. He explained the cause that he too prefers to collaborate with actors who he is familiar and comfortable with.
In his words, “I am not giving a chance to any random individual”. Kashyap admitted it too that he was once a frontman holding the flag of anti-nepotism and leading identical minds of the industry. Another outsider and a popular actor Jimmy Sheirgill responding over nepotism said to ScoopWhoop town hall that it is an undeniable thing and he would always prioritise his kids over others in the industry.
Cursing Bollywood only is never going to alter the condition of day-to-day sufferings caused by nepotism in all walks of life. Common men have none of their business to do with Bollywood except popcorn, cheap and best movie tickets and an aesthetic multiplex.
One thing that may be worth cursing is human’s innate tendency to like and dislike things, which is also God’s bestowal in a way. This tendency drives them to the colloquy of favourite and disgust. The outcome obliges to end up having a favourite actor, spokesperson, and even God and Prophets (if they are many).
Actually, whether it is Bollywood or any sphere, they are a source of inspiration for each other. In terms of management and hegemony, they reflect and learn from each other. The concern of this crisis over here is, we failed to establish an institution which could be epitomised as something anti-nepotism. We can not even imagine this.
One hope was there from the very sacred institution of the country- the Supreme Court. It is revered as a temple of justice, but it could not prevent itself from this evil. But no finger can be pointed on their competency. And wait, was it about competency? No, it was about nepotism due to which the rebel voices are coming out from within the judiciary itself. It is tarnishing its dignity and marginalising people’s faith in it.
This is the repercussion an organisation faces being nepotist. It loses faith in people and its credibility gets zeroed down. No matter how big and marvellous it is. It is very difficult to regain lost glory. It takes years of effort. And expecting a nepotism-free organisation from a lobby recruit based on nepotism is foolish.
One thing is clear, i.e. being educated and blessed with a rational mind is not going to refrain you from being a nepotist. It is abhorrent to only the ethically sound soul and attributed with selflessness. There are a handful of people with such qualities. They are insignificant but not adequate to usher to the big changes. Until an example is set, the probability of having an institution with zero nepotism would always seem impossible.
Otherwise, when an actor from the film says- Raja ka beta Raja nahi Banega (A king’s son would become the king), to which one would respond- aisa sirf filmon me hota hai(This happens only in movies).