Radhika Madan, who started her career in television with Meri Aashiqui Tum Se Hi and transitioned to Bollywood with her 2018 debut in Pataakha, has spoken about “nepotism in the industry”. She acknowledged that actors with family ties and connections in the film world often have an easier path compared to outsiders like herself. Her statement comes after nearly six years in the industry, where she has worked on various projects and observed the challenges of being an outsider.
During her conversation with Shubhankar Mishra on his YouTube chat show Unplugged, Radhikka opened up about the “presence of nepotism” in Bollywood, just like any other industry. She highlighted that star kids get ample amount of opportunities to learn from their mistakes, but with outsiders, that ain’t the case. “Unko seekhane k liye 2-3 filmein aur mil jaati hai ki ‘Abhi seekh jaega, arey dekho improvement hai, arey third film mein kitna accha lag raha hai.’ (They are offered 2-3 films to learn from their mistakes, and people pat on their backs for improving with every film.)”
She continued, “You can’t act, we gave you an opportunity, you’re out.”
Radhikka emphasised that outsiders often develop strong survival instincts because they know they won’t get many chances. “Meri ek galati hogi toh meko toh nikaal denge, mereko nhi mauke milne wale 2-3 filmon ke, acting seekhane ke liye (I could be replaced after just one mistake, and I won’t have the luxury of learning through multiple films),” the actress stated. She also pointed out that outsiders are expected to have perfected their craft before coming to the set, while there are no such expectations for star kids.
Previously, in 2020, when Sushant Singh Rajput suddenly passed away, the topic of nepotism exploded on social media, with many celebrities sharing their opinions on the matter. Radhikka, too, discussed the topic with the Hindustan Times and mentioned, “We outsiders don’t have the luxury of choice. When I started out, it wasn’t like a line of scripts were lying with me, and I could choose the best or zero in on the director or banner to debut with. Tab yeh tha ki jo ho raha hai aur achha lag raha hai, mujhe mil jaye bus (It was like I had to choose from whatever was happening, and I liked it). It’s not easy as an outsider.”
After her debut in Bollywood with Pataakha, co-starring Sanya Malhotra, Radhikka rose to fame with her work alongside the late Irrfan Khan on Angrezi Medium. Monica, O My Darling, Kuttey, Saas, Bahu Aur Flamingo and Sarfira are some of her other notable works.
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