Television actor Vishal Kotian who was a part of Shaheer Sheikh’s Mahabharat has opens up on nepotism. The actor who played the role of Lord Hanuman in Mahabharat and is currently seen as Birbal in Akbar Ka Bal Birbal. Actor shared his thoughts on the ongoing debate of insider vs outsider and feels that it is of no use talking about nepotism. In an interview with ETimes, he said, “The Hindi film industry is close to 100 years old than why this debate of nepotism has suddenly started. The Kapoors and the Khan all are created by the audience and the media. So, why this debate after 100 years. Prithviraj Kapoor sir was there some 90 years ago. The Kapoor family is known as the first family of Indian cinema. So, why this debate has now suddenly come up. I feel this debate is created purposely. I feel nepotism can give you the first opportunity because it is easier to get a chance when you are a star kid. The opportunity comes to star kids early, but nepotism can never make your career. ”
He added, “If nepotism could have made careers then Hrithik Roshan would have been nowhere and Abhishek Bachchan would have been a bigger star than him. There are a lot of star kids who are really hardworking like a Tiger Shroff, you cannot take away that hard work from them. If you can show me any non-star kid who can do what Tiger Shroff does and I am challenging you, I will fold my hands and touch that person’s feet.” The Mahabharat actor said that even star kids work hard and it is wrong to take away credit from them. He said, “Let’s not take away the hard work from them. I would say yaa they do get opportunities first. Aise bol sakta hoon main jahan se humare sapne pure hona shuru hote hain unka struggle khatam hota hai… Their struggle is probably to last and ours is to get a break, but in the end we are in the same sea probably travelling in different boats. The only two things that are going to take you places are talent and hardwork. If you have both these things nothing can stop you. I genuinely feel Abhishek Bachchan is a brilliant actor but what happens whenever he acts he gets compared to his father. How can someone be better than Amitabh Bachchan. I really want someone to show me acting better than Amitabh Bachchan. For me he is the God of acting and it is impossible. He is such a fabulous actor, but for him it is a no win situation. We also need to understand what pressure they go through. They constantly get compared.”
Vishal Kotian also said that times have changed and the only people who will survive are the ones who have talent. He shared, “Aaj ke taareekh mein woh nahi hai ki tum star kid ho toh star ban jaaunge….If that would have been the case toh Vicky Kaushal, Ayushmann Khurrana, Rajkumarr Rao would have not been there. Today, if you are a star kid and good only then you will survive like a Tiger Shroff. And even if you are not then also you will survive Ayushmann Khurrana, Rajkumarr Rao. The industry is so wide now. In fact, today’s time is the worst to discuss nepotism because so many youngsters have got opportunities to act and be successful in today’s time who would have probably not got a chance otherwise. Nawazuddin Siddhiqui, Rajkummar Rao, Vicky Kaushal they all are normal looking guys like us but what talent they have nobody can match up to them.”
