Enakshi tells us how nepotism is rampant all over, not just in Bollywood, in this column. An exclusive for Different Truths.

No, this is not a book review. This article is rather an eye-opener for all the people who believe in running after the famous! Nepotism has been perpetuated in our society for a long time. Now, it is not only limited to Bollywood but any field for that matter. Right from getting a job through your contacts, to marketing your book using your fanbase, every other field reeks of nepotism. Thus, it would be very wrong to say that only actors are a victim of this vicious cycle.

Nepotism has been perpetuated in our society for a long time. Now, it is not only limited to Bollywood but any field for that matter. Right from getting a job through your contacts, to marketing your book using your fanbase, every other field reeks of nepotism. Thus, it would be very wrong to say that only actors are a victim of this vicious cycle.

While on one side you have writers like Durjoy Dutta, Chetan Bhagat, Ravinder Singh, who rose to fame with the help of their contacts and fanbase, there are writers like Sandhya Jane, who haven’t got their share of name and fame. It pains my heart to be a part of the latter group because I do not have a Godfather nor do I have that much money to spend in the promotion of my books. I write because I like doing it. But if at any point I decide to give up my regular job hoping to become a full-time writer, I will have to think about it twice, for writing doesn’t help me cross the bridge.

For those of you who are confused with the concept of nepotism, it is a form of favouritism granted to the friends and family members in various fields. The consequence of nepotism is that it shrouds the real talent that brews outside the posh community. Do you remember how after Sushant Singh Rajput’s death all the people with a fake concern came forward asking the director to release Dil Bechara in theatres rather than releasing it on the streaming platform? Several people hit the bull’s eye by posting on twitter about the hypocrisy shown by the fans. The fans, who didn’t even bother to watch one of the best movies, Chhichhore, in the theatre were whining about the release of Dil Bechara.

Recently, Disney’s Hotstar surprised everyone by procuring the release rights of seven Hindi movies. While five of them were given a shout out on Twitter and Hotstar because the star cast comprised of all the known faces, two films were not even deemed worthy of mention. One of the two films has Vidyut Jamwal in the lead role and the other has Kunal Khemu and Rasika Duggal.

This is not the only proof of hypocrisy. Recently, Disney’s Hotstar surprised everyone by procuring the release rights of seven Hindi movies. While five of them were given a shout out on Twitter and Hotstar because the star cast comprised of all the known faces, two films were not even deemed worthy of mention. One of the two films has Vidyut Jamwal in the lead role and the other has Kunal Khemu and Rasika Duggal. It is quite obvious why these two movies weren’t included in the promotion poster. Such biased standards and closed mindsets are the reasons why people are afraid to experiment with their skills. The fear of failure overpowers the will to go on in the direction that promises the unanticipated.

It is strange how strangers support you more than the people you know. I think people we know have a tough time accepting that we come from the same place yet are now in a different place unlike them. Well, that’s just a way to console myself. It is a common observation that I have made — friends and family or the loved ones often reject your creation and get away with it. They expect the artists to distribute their creation for free and that is the toughest moment for any artist. Eventually, we, the artists, are forced to realise that there are none who would step forward and support us.

Making money is the need of the hour, for it is all about money. The world runs on money. Gone are the days when talent was respected and one could thrive based on the skills. Amidst the good wishes and the cheers, the talent often gets lost. And that’s when the artist realises that there were none, in the first place, who stood by his side!

It is said that creativity flourishes in solitude. That’s not incorrect. What is incorrect is the belief that one can live in a pragmatic world just by focussing on the art. Instead, one needs to know the art of promoting the talent so that the blue-chip companies notice you and galvanize the process. Making money is the need of the hour, for it is all about money. The world runs on money. Gone are the days when talent was respected and one could thrive based on the skills. Amidst the good wishes and the cheers, the talent often gets lost. And that’s when the artist realises that there were none, in the first place, who stood by his side!

What you can do to stop nepotism?

Just one thing — buy, promote, share the work of a new artist (in any field) if that intrigues you. The more you share, the more it will come into the notice of others. Help the newcomers grow so that they do not feel scared crossing this territory.

Photo from the Internet