I was just eating dinner when I realized that pretty much all the people that are being introduced into Bollywood are either prominent models or the children of stars from the yesteryears.

Wouldn't the latter be blatant nepotism? ...And wouldn't the former be a lame way of attracting ppl into the theaters?

After thinking about it, I guess it makes sense for the producers and directors. I mean, you are introducing someone who most everyone has heard of. I mean, you can cast Diya Mirza in her first movie and make a terrible movie but people will still be intrigued by how Diya Mirza the beauty queen fares.

By pulling these strings, they don't have to go out and search for talent. They've essentially ensured they're getting someone who has good looks; even if they aren't beautiful, they'll have all the ways and means to become beautiful because they're around glamorous people e.g Kareena Kapoor, Esha Deol etc. Secondly, they know that the person has some experience in the limelight and in front of the camera.

Realistically, those two things aren't worth a dime as far as how well you can act. Why do you think we have to wait for the Karisma's and the Aishwarya's to give us flop after flop before figuring out how to act. Then, we marvel at how great they are; granted they can act now, but this is after tons of forgettable movies!! Shouldn't they refine their acting at lower levels and then earn theiir way into Bollywood?

In my opinion, this is part of the reason why we have so many bad movies released. Also, since we're seeing the same blood in Bollywood (Kapoors, etc.), you will see a lot of repeat plots and a lot of "same ol same ol", even down to the acting style.

I just thank God that some of these star children had some natural acting skills (Hrithik, etc.), or else Bollywood would be in serious trouble with the best actors and actresses getting older (Madhuri, Aamir, SRK).

Also let me say that I understand that sometimes directors are in a tough bind because the audience demands attractive actors/actresses to be cast, but I believe that , if a Lisa Ray wants to make it in Bollywood, she better take some time off of modelling and take on some small budget roles whereever she can so she can refine her skills, or else we'll continue to see Miss Universes come in and give us 5 flops before they learn to act. That goes for the guys too (ahem...Arjun Rampal).

Interesting discussion, reading your post "Muja meri apani javani ka geet yaad aya, shayad suna hoga"(Anupam Kher ala Khel) :p "Naa hum Amitabh, Naa! Dilip Kumar, Naa! kisie hero ka baacha, hum hain seeda, saada, Akshay! Akshay!"

What you say is not always necessarily true, take Ram Gopal Verma's COMPANY for example, Vivak Oberoi, according to ramu, he is the best newcomer he's worked with, and Vivak Oberoi has become the most talked about newcomer in the history of bollywood even though he doesn't even have one release to show for anything, and he's the son of actor Suresh Oberoi, who's been a C or atmost B grade actor all his life. But to be objective, and to support your argument, if Vivak Oberoi didn't have connection in bollywood through his father, he maybe wouldn't have been discovered at all.

Actor's that have well estabilshed themselves in bollywood without any family connections that i know of are people like Manoj Bajpai, Jackie Shroff, ummmm i'm trying hard to think of more? but most name's that pop into my head seem to kinda drift to those that had family connections. Anybody wanna help me out? :rolleyes:


There is a stranger in your mirror

There are actually a lot of them, most prominent is SRK. There are some others like Raveena Tandon, Urmila, Sonali Bendre, (among models, Arjun Rampal, Aishwarya (and the other beauty queens)), Madhuri, Govinda etc.
The major advantage to having family connections is that you get a lot more chances. A normal newcomer would have been out of Bollywood if he had Abhishek Bachchan's track record. But due to Abhishek being the son of the Big B, he's still getting plum offers after 4 flops and 3 forgettable performances. (Not picking on the guy, just an example )

Yes, I totally agree that some stars become stars themselves without the extra family or modelling boost, but there is still that majority.

I find it to be condescending that they try to sell tickets by casting so and so's son, and then you watch the movie and realize that they should've used their time trying to work on the movie's plot or maybe shooting scenes until it is done well!

Don't get me wrong, this is not that huge a deal, but it's still fascinating how a movie industry that is trying to become a close second to Hollywood still offers such limited access to newcomers, or more precisely, does not do enough to develop new talent.

Shahrukh Khan graduated from television to films. Raveena Tandon is the daughter of Ravi Tandon a producer of several films in the 70's & 80's. Govinda is Goldie Anand's nephew, there is another relationship that I can't recall right now that Govinda has with the industry. Madhuri and Urmila both come from families with connections in the film industry, I just can't remember the relationships right now. Sonali Bendre & Aishwarya are both former beauty queens and Arjun Rampal is a model.

As for Abhishek Bachan, if it were ntop for his father no one would even consider him for a small sidey role in films. But due to his father's good will he will finally make it just lkike all the other star sons. Simply because out of all the films atleast one will finally be a hit and that's all it takes in the industry for you to last another 10 flops.

My contention is that anyone of us, well almost anyone of us is as talented as most of these star sons and daughters. Given enough time and exposure I'm sure I could do better than Karishma, who I think still cannot act.

Here's a quick quiz for all you Amitabh fans out there;
What was Amitabh Bachchan's connections that led him into the Hindi Film Industry?


There is a stranger in your mirror

Wasn't AB's father who hailed from north India a writer & a poet with fan following in Bollywood?

lakeshore

lakeshore your 50% correct, and BTW, Amitabh's father (Haribansrai Bachchan) at the time during the late 60s was considered a "National Poet". But here's a hint, Amitabh Bachchan also had strong political connections in India.


There is a stranger in your mirror

Well, he was friends with Rajiv Gandhi if I remember correctly.



Edited By MalFUnXiON on Jan. 06 2002 at 02:03

I think slowly over period of time bollywood will have more actors from TV which is good. I believe SRK, Madhavan, Ashutosh Rana, Ashish Vidyatri etc are good.


Regarding AB, If I remember correctly Indira Gandhi gave some help to AB.

correct, and actually Rajiv Gandhi was amitabh's childhood friend, thus best friends.
& that's how amitabh had his connections into films, politics/friends/family.


Another person to that list is Chandarchu Singh. & thus far, his best work til this day still remains with his dabute in Gulzar's ingenues political satire Maachis


There is a stranger in your mirror

and then there are some who debuted in films, were rejected and did the reverse and went into television anyone remember mukul dev(dastak), vivek mushran.... catch them on a tv station near u....
well having filmi connections definitely gives u a solid start in the film industry and ofcourse u do get more chances than others..... examples abhishek bachchan, fardeen khan are still around .. fardeen khan had been literally written off after prem aggan but then came mr ramgopal varma and signed him for jungle and he got a new lease of life.... a relative newcomer has to struggle a lot and 1 or 2 flops can mean the end of their filmi dreams.... i guess thats the ways of the film industry.... and teh audience today is more likely to see jetendra's son's debut on screen than go and see a relative newcomer who they have no clue abt.....

Abrockets fan wrote: "But it's still fascinating how a movie industry that is trying to become a close second to Hollywood still offers such limited access to newcomers"

I also detest this nepotism business (though I'd surely commit the grievous sin myself if I were in a position to do so!!). However, Hollywood's just as bad. Research almost any successful actor - partic. with the newest gen. of stars - and you will find a connection. Even supposed "from-nowheres" like Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and Heather Graham have relatives in the business.

And, of course, those who didn't have familial connections often had a degree from the Yale School of Drama...which, from what I understand, is in some respects merely a ticket that costs a hundred grand - one which wins one entry into seminars where one can hobnob (make impt. connections) with visiting thespians.

Re: acting skills, the only person I admire in Bollywood for acting skills alone is Aamir Khan. Shahrukh Khan has something even rarer, I think: a truly remarkable charisma that transcends even linguistic barriers. My father, who speaks not a word of Hindi, watched a 3 hour unsubtitled film just b/c he liked SRK so much.

This reminds me of a theory I had about the 3 Khans:

Shah Rukh Khan is the best movie star.
Aamir Khan is the best actor.
Salman Khan is the best torso.


Where is Salman these days anyway?

BTW, really good thread, abrocketsfan. D:

PagalChand,

I like the way you put it... SRK is the better movie star, but Aamir is the better actor

Although this is definitely debatable, I agree with you because I have seen Aamir excel in a variety of roles (Rangeela, Dil Chahta Hai, Andaz Apna Apna), which can only mean he is a great actor. On the other hand, SRK plays a couple of roles really really well, and these are your typical movie star roles; his acting in KKHH, KKKG, etc. is great, as is his acting in lunatic roles like Darr, Baazigar, etc, but he couldn't give us the kind of performace in Dil Chahta Hai, Lagaan, Hum Hain Rahi Pyaar Kai, or Raja Hindustani that Aamir gave us.

This is not to say he isn't a great actor, but I would say that Aamir's versatility makes him the better actor, although there are certain roles SRK can fill that can go head to head with any Aamir performance. So, I guess the best way to say that is like you did.

Then, we have Salman Khan, who excels only in one role - the goofy flirt! Can't feel bad for the guy though, of late he's been getting to act with not one but two beautiful actresses (Rani Mukherjee and Preity Zinta twice, now Sushmita Sen and Diya Mirza).