Acclaimed filmmaker Subhash Ghai recently opened up on insider vs outsider debate. Scroll down to read what Ghai said.
Subhash Ghai is one of the acclaimed directors in the Bollywood industry. Over the years, Ghai has produced hit movies including Taal, Ram Lakhan, and Pardes, which created a stir at the box office. He is known for launching and working with Bollywood legends across generations. Now, in a recent interview, the filmmaker spoke about nepotism in the industry, mentioning Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan, who became prominent names in Bollywood due to their merits.
During an interview session with The Invincibles Series with Arbaaz Khan, Subhash talked about the heated insider vs. outsider debate in Bollywood. He mentioned that if an actor becomes successful and people like their films, it is solely because of their acting and performances, not because of the families they belong to. According to Ghai, success is determined by merit and the audience. Citing a number of famous kids who never made it big, the director revealed that there is a long list.
“Wo har ghar mein hota hai, lawyer ke family mein honge ya doctor ki family mein. Competition mein wo apne merit pe hi aayega (It happens in every home, be it in a lawyer’s family or a doctor’s family. In the competition, the actor will get success based on his/her merit),” the 79-year-old filmmaker said.
Ghai later stressed that a bunch of star kids who did well at the box office and wooed audiences with their performances were judged for promoting nepotism in the industry. He added that the privilege star kids get is usually the opportunity to visit a film set.
“Agar Salman Khan bana hai toh apni merit pe aaya. Shah Rukh bahar se aaya toh merit pe bana (If Salman Khan has become successful, then it is due to his merit. Shah Rukh came from outside and became successful on merit),” the senior filmmaker added.
Subhash Ghai directed Shah Rukh Khan in the 1997 film Pardes, which also featured Mahima Chaudhary, Amrish Puri, and Apoorva Agnihotri. He later collaborated with Salman Khan on the 2008 movie Yuvvraaj, starring Katrina Kaif, Anil Kapoor, and Zayed Khan.