Audience too smart for nepotism: Pankaj Tripathi

Pankaj Tripathi, one of the most versatile and acclaimed actors in Bollywood today, has chimed in on the nepotism debate, reported Hindustan Times. An outsider who made it big, he said that he has never felt uncomfortable in the industry, despite not having a strong filmy background.

“Nepotism has never really bothered me in any way. I have been busy working on my craft,” he said. “People might think I am lying when I say that I have never felt uncomfortable in the industry. But this journey and experience have been mine so only I can say how it was so far,” he went on, adding that he has had his own fair share of struggles, regardless. “I have worked immensely hard to bag roles in films. I have struggled for eight long years before people started recognising me…”

While he may have not experienced it first hand, Tripathi clarified that that doesn’t mean he hasn’t seen it happening to others around him. “Although I have never had any such experiences, I would not deny that I have seen these things happening in the industry with others. Star kids do get opportunities quicker than others because they belong to certain families,” he said.

But did that stop him? “I never got opportunities so easily. However, nobody stopped me either. It doesn’t matter. If you become a recognised actor after eight years of struggle or just a mere eight days, if you do not have the talent, you will not survive in the industry,” he explained. “The audience is very smart. They know who is talented and who is not.”

The nepotism debate in Bollywood, which was first stirred by actor Kangana Ranaut some years back, has gained heat after the tragic demise of Sushant Singh Rajput earlier this year. Many came forth after his death to insinuate that the PK star had been side-lined by Bollywood bigwigs to make way for ‘star kids,’ which ultimately affected his mental health.

Ranaut is still at the forefront of this debate, with many other actors chiming in, from stars like Saif Ali Khan to ‘outsiders’ like Taapsee Pannu and more.

Tripathi, who has made quite the mark on Bollywood and is often hailed as rendering supporting roles mainstream success today, hails from humble beginnings in Bihar. His claim to fame is Anurag Kashyap’s 2012 super hit Gangs of Wasseypur, which put him on the Bollywood map.

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