The debate around prevailing nepotism in Bollywood refuses to die down. After Kangana Ranaut called Karan Johar "flag bearer of Nepotism in Bollywood" on Koffee With Karan Season 5, the entire nation applauded her gutsy and blunt attitude. Though Karan refuses this tag, an old video has surfaced online, where Karan called himself nepotistic and admited that true talent is the last factor that determines stardom in Bollywood.
The video shows Karan Johar talking about his pick for Student of The Year, a 'chubby', daughter of a popular filmmaker Alia Bhatt and his former assistant director Varun Dhawan. "Maybe the fact that she (Alia Bhatt) is Mahesh Bhatt's daughter excited me. Had I chosen Varun Dhawan if he hadn't been a son of filmmaker?"
Well, the statement by Karan proves that he is guilty of nepotism in his own eyes.
The video clip is from Anupama Chopra's show The Front Row where Karan was in a discussion with Deepika Padukone and Tisca Chopra and when the entire nation was waiting for the SOTY actors, to prove their worth without him.
Cut to 2017, when Bollywood was engulfed in the discussion of nepotism courtesy Kangana's remarks, Karan once again spoke about nepotism in front of Anupama Chopra, but this time he refused it all. "She(Kangana) has the right to have an opinion but when she says ‘flag bearer of nepotism’, what I want to say is I’m glad she knows what nepotism is. I don’t think she has understood the entirety of that statement because what is nepotism? Am I working with my nephews, nieces, sons, daughters? What about those 15 filmmakers who are not from the film industry whom I have launched? No one talks about Tarun Mansukhani, Shashank Khaitan. Or Punit Malhotra, who is a costume designer’s nephew. Shakun Batra, who came from no film background. You give these people film careers and a platform to stand on. And that is the reverse of nepotism but that of course one would not get credit for.”
On being asked about actors, Karan said, “I have launched Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan. Sidharth Malhotra was just 1/3rd of them and had nothing to do with the movies,” he said.
It is interesting to note how in three years Karan's views about nepotism has changed from north to south, but the host has remained the same. Now, one doesn't know what Chopra would've been thinking while hosting completely different point of views from the same person on the same topic, but people supporting Karan would need to question his stand for sure.
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