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22 Jul, 2017

Nepotism is the latest buzzword in Bollywood yet so few seem to understand its significance.

Just yesterday, Saif Ali Khan insisted that the Indian film industry isn't nepotistic — it's just that some pretty famous moms and dads have been producing some pretty famous babies. It's a matter of good genes, not family favouritism, he says, and there's nothing wrong about a producer making a "genetic investment".

Kangana, like the rest of us, found his ideas "disturbing", and so she decided to write an open letter too, where she gives her own breakdown of what nepotism means:

She says that nepotism may be good for business but the boys are missing the main point...

"Nepotism is a practice where people tend to act upon temperamental human emotions, rather than intellectual tendencies. Businesses that are run by human emotions and not by great value-systems, might gain superficial profits. However, they cannot be truly productive and tap into the true potential of a nation of more than 1.3 billion people."

...because nepotism goes against basic human values.

"Nepotism, on many levels, fails the test of objectivity and rationale. I have acquired these values from the ones who have found great success and discovered a higher truth, much before me. These values are in the public domain, and no one has a copyright on them.

"Today, I can afford to have the willpower to stand for these values, but tomorrow, I might fail, and help my own children realise their dreams of stardom. In that case, I believe that I would have failed as an individual. But the values will never fail. They will continue to stand tall and strong, long after we are gone.

So, we owe an explanation to everyone who either owns, or wants to own these values. Like I said, we are the ones who will shape the future of the coming generations.

Naturally, Saif's whole race horse mating analogy was lost on her.

"In another part of your letter, you talked about the relationship between genetics and star kids, where you emphasised on nepotism being an investment on tried and tested genes. I have spent a significant part of my life studying genetics. But, I fail to understand how you can compare genetically hybrid racehorses to artistes!

"Are you implying that artistic skills, hard-work, experience, concentration spans, enthusiasm, eagerness, discipline and love, can be inherited through family genes? If your point was true, I would be a farmer back home. I wonder which gene from my gene-pool gave me the keenness to observe my environment, and the dedication to interpret and pursue my interests.

She also quietly corrected Saif's definition of eugenics.

"You also spoke of eugenics -- which means controlled breeding of the human race. So far, I believe that the human race hasn't found the DNA that can pass on greatness and excellence. If it had, we would've loved to repeat the greatness of Einstein, Da Vinci, Shakespeare, Vivekananda, Stephen Hawking, Terence Tao, Daniel Day-Lewis, or Gerhard Richter.

In a nutshell, she sees no end to nepotism, just wants to encourage "outsiders" to find ways around it

"In fact, the subtext of all my talk on this subject has been to encourage outsiders to take the path less travelled. Bullying, jealousy, nepotism and territorial human tendencies are all part of the entertainment industry, much like any other. If you don't find acceptance in the mainstream, go off beat -- there are so many ways of doing the same thing.

I think the privileged are the least to be blamed in this debate, since they are part of the system, which is set around chain reactions. Change can only be caused by those who want it. It is the prerogative of the dreamer who learns to take his or her due, and not ask for it."

Read Kangana's full letter here.

Comments

raj kumar Jul 22, 2017 05:53pm
This lady is simply superb,acting skills with lot of grey material inside and love the way she has taken on the "Mutual admiration club" that exits in bollywood with most of its members being average in their skill set.
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Kamal Jul 22, 2017 05:56pm
All the bigwigs were once outsiders when they became legends in film industry. It was done by handwork and talent. But their silver spooned kids feel entitled to retain that tittle without working and proving themselves. Everytime nepotistic kid gets role just because of his surname, he snatches the chance from talented struggling outsiders. Who would have become legend just like their outsider father once was.
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Madan mohan joshi Jul 22, 2017 06:09pm
She is the only heroin in bollywood which really be called 'beauty with brain'. Everybody knows that there is nepotism very much present in bollywood but people lack guts to speak in an uncertain industry. There are numerous one film actors who did wonders but soon sent to oblivion. Yet there are others who have good connections and godfathers go on working even after flop and superflops.For existence in bollywood you must belong to one of the camps - be it Khans, Punjabis (chopras ,Kapoors and johars), Bhatts. bengalis etc. You are doomed if you do not possess such a club membership besides your talent.
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Amit Jul 22, 2017 06:10pm
So true. A farmers son can posses other interests and talent other than farming and excel. Kangana's background is living proof of it. A doctor son's may not necessarily have the same interest/intelligence in medicine like his dad. Same way ace actor/actress don't produce legend actor sons by default. They have to prove themselves. Amitabh Bachan is legend, can the same be said about his son? He still got chance because of nepotism. While others won't get same privilege because they don't have famous dads to sponsper them in industry. Saif is wrong.
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R Jul 22, 2017 06:59pm
Kudos to kangana. We love you.
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Rajiv Ranjan Jul 22, 2017 07:32pm
Kangana is a lady of substance, real substance. There is intellectual depth in her thoughts.
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DANIYAL Jul 22, 2017 08:07pm
Damm...This woman is amazing. She epitomizes what a self-made strong-willed & independent woman should be about. KUDOS to her for standing up strongly for herself. She'll inspire many more.
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Saif Jul 22, 2017 08:09pm
Wowwww...
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Rahul Jul 22, 2017 08:22pm
How can you not like her?
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Shehzad Jul 22, 2017 08:46pm
Thats why all bollywood can produce are replicas of movies and music from other nations and nothing else at all. So many people in India, so many movies and they can't come up with an original scene of their own, let alone an original screenplay.
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AS Jul 22, 2017 08:48pm
Kangana do no worry. The genes of the past stars have got mutated as evidence regarding acting performance of Bollywood starkids shows they have not produced race horses but jack asses.
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Khan Jul 22, 2017 08:58pm
Excellent and a eligant response
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Achin sharma Jul 22, 2017 08:59pm
This girl is amazing.....we need more of her in the subcontinent..
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kerala Jul 22, 2017 09:16pm
Kangana is right. And I hope with her production's support new real talents will get a launch pad.
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gaurang Jul 22, 2017 09:29pm
Once again, Kangana outshines this goon. She is logical, intelligent, beautiful! We love you, Kangana!
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Ben Jul 22, 2017 11:18pm
You rock Kangana. I am not going to waste any words on someone like Saif.
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Secularist Jul 23, 2017 12:56am
Kangana is my favorite because she is intellectually mature and artistically very talented. She is wasting her superior knowledge and command of facts on a bunch of parasites who have nit graduated beyond Harold Robbins and Chetan Bhagats.
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Dr. Asad Sadick, Germany Jul 23, 2017 02:27am
Nepotistic tendencies are present in each individual. It only becomes visible when better placed people practice it. They practice it because they can afford to. Genes do play a role in transfering data to the next generation, this then supported by the position of the donor helps further and this is described as nepotism. Cloning of Einstein would have had an effect on the generations to come, but one can be skeptical to the result.
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Ben Jul 23, 2017 02:38am
I just found out that Saif texts an apology to Kangana 3-4 days back. What a real man and true "NAWAB" he is...
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Vijay B. Jul 23, 2017 03:02am
Wow! An actress who can write like that articulately? Hats off to you Ms. Kangana Raut
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AAmir Jul 23, 2017 03:55am
Intelligent Woman. Excellent Reply.
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Khem Jul 23, 2017 06:55am
What Karan, Varun and Saif did during IIFA was absolutely absurd and sign of male chauvinism? When Kangana accused Karan of nepotism on his on show, he did not even have guts to reply her. She said directly at his that Karan is flag bearer of nepotism in industry. He just let her go with fake smile and later began campaign against Kangana. As far as Varun and Saif are concern, lesser said is enough. Both are in the industry because of their parents not because of their hardwork or dedication. Kangana is an absolutely gem, she doesn't need to prove anything more.
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PSingh Jul 23, 2017 08:39am
No doubt Bollywood is full of nepotism.. it's not just in Bollywood But also in politics..
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Hemant Jul 23, 2017 10:29am
Go girl !!..it takes a lot of grit and courage to stand up for truth , to stand up against the established order. In a way you are lucky to be here in 21st century. This is the best time for the masses the commoner to dream , to be heard.
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Zala Jul 23, 2017 11:32am
WOW! What an articulate girl. Bravo!
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irfan Jul 23, 2017 02:43pm
superb thoughts great lady
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Pakistani woman Jul 23, 2017 03:40pm
I have noticed that mostly men have commented here appreciating her response. As a woman I am in awe of her as well - she is very articulate
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Shazam Jul 23, 2017 04:22pm
She even wrote better than many phds.. huge respect.
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chenab Jul 24, 2017 06:41pm
wow - very impressive. you cannot beat that even tempered, well worded, analytical and rational statement- it makes Saif look like a bumbling clown- I always admired his wit and intelligence but he truly messed up this time- Kangana rules the day.
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karmicgal Jul 25, 2017 10:31am
Saif Ali khan's thinking itself is an off shoot of nepotism. His parents met because one was a cricketer and one an actress and it was fashionable for them to be together. The result was saif who has proven neither his cricketing skills nor his acting skills. For lack of anything else he could excel at he decided to use his mother's fame to get in to acting.
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Rehna Jul 26, 2017 02:32pm
A profession of make believe.
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Sheba Jul 27, 2017 01:28am
so true for any industry even politics of our country
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ZIA Jul 27, 2017 06:20am
She is at par with Shahrukh that way. An outsider with brain and ability to communicate as they have learnt through hardwork same way as once Dilip Kumar or Amitabh or Rajesh Khanna or Dev Anand did. Amir Saif Salman Kapoors all privileged ones.
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Shaheen A. Jul 27, 2017 11:15am
while i agree to what this lady says, i really doubt if she wrote it herself, or has paid writers pen down her ideas. After all, taking a certain position is also a PR exercise that gets 'likes' from movie ticket buyers.
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