In recent times, the word "nepotism" has become widely associated with Bollywood, particularly after the tragic death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput. I won’t delve into the tragedy itself—much has already been written and spoken about it. Instead, I’d like to explore a few aspects of nepotism that I’ve come to understand through conversations with people and personal reflection.
Let’s start by understanding what nepotism actually means.
According to the dictionary, nepotism is:
“The practice among those with power or influence of favouring relatives or friends, especially by giving them jobs.”
I believe this definition is clear enough. But it raises a crucial question:
Is it wrong to help your relatives or friends?
Most of us would probably say no. I agree—helping your loved ones is not inherently wrong, especially if you are in a position to do so. In fact, we often expect such support from those close to us. However, the issue begins when this support comes at the cost of someone else’s rightful opportunity. When helping your own means deliberately sidelining or sabotaging others, nepotism becomes toxic and unjust.
It is absolutely fine to assist someone in growing their career—as long as the help is based on merit and talent. But when people begin removing obstacles not through hard work, but by eliminating competition through influence or manipulation, we cross into dangerous territory.
From what I’ve observed and heard, this practice has been deeply rooted in Bollywood for decades. If that's true, it’s deeply concerning. Because when real talent is continuously ignored or suppressed, it sends a message that connections matter more than capability. This discourages hardworking, skilled individuals and robs the industry—and the nation—of true potential.
Nepotism, in itself, isn’t the real evil. The real issue lies with those who misuse their power to block others from rising. Equally at fault are those who, despite knowing the truth, support and enable such behavior for personal gain. This unhealthy system needs to be checked—not just socially, but legally. Policies and frameworks should ensure that talent and integrity are protected, and unfair practices are held accountable.
Helping someone should mean giving them an opportunity, not taking away someone else's.
Unfortunately, this isn’t a problem limited to Bollywood. Nepotism exists in politics, corporate offices, and even educational institutions. The consequences are serious—many talented individuals become disillusioned, some even take extreme steps out of frustration, leading to emotional and social damage that ripples across families and society.
If we don’t address it now, we risk losing countless talents who could otherwise make our country proud on global platforms.
Let’s build a culture where opportunities are earned, not gifted. Where success is defined by merit, not by proximity to power.
