Is there indeed a cartel in Bollywood? - Page 3

Originally posted by: Rekha_ji

- Sara had NOTHING to do with Dhadak, whatsoever..

She did. Sara was supposed to do Dhadak. Masand mentioned it in his first interview with Sara.

https://youtu.be/ZIg4q4fWobI?t=1018

Originally posted by: colossial2015

This is what outsider gang forget. The rich kids are introduced to bollywood celebs in Page 3 parties from childhood. For example Arjun Bijlani and Ranbir Kapoor know each other from school. Or the cast of Archies, the so called outsiders are kids of rich people. Financiers and insurance agents charge a hefty amount for safety over star kids.

People in corporate world sleep with their seniors, if they want promotion or new position. Men would not mind to make moves over females, even if she is fat and ugly. People do anything for career progress. I have seen this happening in so many companies in India.

True.For the industry kids,the initial connections are inherited or made at a young age. But to get to the very top they too have to network and play the game. To be on par with a star kid you have to network and not simply say that "it's not fair.". It's not just about talent. It's mostly about buttering up, making connections and making people like you.Why else would talented outsiders flatter KJo so much in his show? Sometimes it makes you uncomfortable to see them trying so hard. But you see equally cringeworthy moments in real life.There are plenty of people out there in the line willing to do whatever it takes to succeed if you're not willing.

There's a quote from a Malayalam movie Vasthavam which is equally applicable to Bollywood.An old government servant introduces the newbie hero to the corrupt system and explains the game. "The job here is like a rope. You can go as high as you wish. Some people will remain happily at the bottom doing their work and retiring comfortably. For those willing to do more, the sky is the limit."

I agree about outsiders also mostly belonging to rich families. Amitabh Bachchan belonged to elite family, his family knew Nehru and Gandhi family, he had played in backyard of Indira Gandhi's house with his childhood friend Rajiv Gandhi and Indira had sent a handwritten letter requesting producers to consider casting Amitabh in films.

Which common man has 2 PMs as his motherly aunt and best friend?

Rajesh Khanna also belonged to a filthy rich family in Amritsar and even in his struggling days he used to go to studios in sports cars. Sharmila Tagore belonged to famous Tagore family of Bengal.

There are hardly any common man types from poor or middle class families who made it in entertainment industry. Mangeshkars, Kumars (Ashok and Kishore) etc were all highly well connected families and knew freedom fighters and politicians.

Originally posted by: atominis

I agree about outsiders also mostly belonging to rich families. Amitabh Bachchan belonged to elite family, his family knew Nehru and Gandhi family, he had played in backyard of Indira Gandhi's house with his childhood friend Rajiv Gandhi and Indira had sent a handwritten letter requesting producers to consider casting Amitabh in films.

Which common man has 2 PMs as his motherly aunt and best friend?

Rajesh Khanna also belonged to a filthy rich family in Amritsar and even in his struggling days he used to go to studios in sports cars. Sharmila Tagore belonged to famous Tagore family of Bengal.

There are hardly any common man types from poor or middle class families who made it in entertainment industry. Mangeshkars, Kumars (Ashok and Kishore) etc were all highly well connected families and knew freedom fighters and politicians.

Amitabh was incredibly privileged. He was hosted by the Dutt family when he came to try his luck in Mumbai. But the incredibly powerful producers while being impressed by Indira's letter didn't give him a chance. At last Sunil had to cast him himself in a movie he made "Reshma aur Shera". But Amitabh made powerful friends in the industry. Comedian Mehboob who was very popular cast him as the lead in Bombay to Goa which he made. Jaya Bhaduri who asked producers to cast him and vowed to make him a superstar.

But there are also those who came to Bollywood with nothing -especially after the Partition. Rajendra Kumar and Sunil Dutt are examples. They were from wealthy families in present day Pakistan. But they lost everything when they came to India. Nargis's niece reminisces how annoyed the nieces were to see Nargis treating these gareeb actors with so much affection when they came to see her before the making of Mother India. She ordered expensive snacks from the most expensive restaurant in town. This was much before the famous fire when Nargis and Sunil Dutt fell in love.

Jaya had a huge role in making Amitabh what he is. She herself belonged to a well connected family in Bengal and if I am not mistaken her dad was also a reputed editor or journalist or a media baron of sorts. She was gold medallist from FTII. And used her FTII connections also to get people to cast Amitabh and Amitabh basically piggy backed on her links, connections as well to get reccos or introduced to industry people.

Not every 'outsider' has such access as Amitabh had.

For that matter even SRK belonged to a well to do family and his dad ran canteen at NSD so knew some actors like Dilip Kumar through NSD. His mom also knew Dilip saab. Not that he had privilege like Amitabh but thanks to parents he was not totally unconnected to world of actors. He got some sort of foot in the door.