Nepotism has been one of the most debated topics in Bollywood, and Suniel Shetty has never shied away from addressing it. The actor, who carved out his own niche in the industry without film experience, believes the conversation often ignores the bigger picture. Reflecting on his children’s struggles and journeys , he reflected on his personal struggles and the journeys of his children Athiya and Ahan in a 2020 interview with eTimes. He emphasized that while child stars may get their first break, sustaining a career ultimately depends on talent, hard work, and audience acceptance. The early challenges in his career: Coming from a family with no film experience, the struggle was real. Even after his first break, he was dismissed by critics, who found his performances wooden and suggested he return to the restaurant business. Instead of letting this discourage him, he took the criticism to heart and used it as motivation. He focused on improving his acting while honing his acting skills, eventually carving out a niche for himself in the industry. For him, criticism became fuel for growth, not a reason to give up. Why the nepotism debate seems unfair The actor admitted that the constant debate surrounding nepotism seems unfair and harmful. He believes it exists in every profession, not just in film. He believes it’s natural for a son or daughter of an actor to dream of following the same path—just as the son or daughter of an industrialist often aspires to take over the family business. Having grown up watching the love and admiration their parents received, it’s natural for children to want the same for themselves. He feels he’s no different from parents who use their influence to get their child into a good school. To him, the idea that child stars shouldn’t dream of becoming actors simply because of their parents makes little sense. Supporting aspiring actors beyond his family Shetty further explained that, in addition to his own children, he actively works to create opportunities for thousands of aspiring actors. Through his online talent scouting platform, nearly 2.7 lakh young people are waiting for a chance, and he constantly appeals to filmmakers to give them opportunities. He finds it unfair that only the film industry is singled out when discussions about nepotism or favoritism arise. While child stars face criticism and even abuse, he emphasizes that the industry has always given back and supported people in times of need. For him, the focus should be on treating every child as an individual, rather than judging them based on their background. He acknowledged that the group exists in Bollywood, but emphasized that it’s not exclusive to films—it’s present in every field. The way forward, he believed, is to accept this reality while striving to create space for talent to shine, wherever it comes from. When asked how Athiya and Ahan feel about the nepotism debate, Suniel shared that even they question whether being child stars means they’re not allowed to dream of becoming actors. He points out that he himself didn’t come from a film family and never received a major release. Similarly, Athiya and Ahan got their breaks independently, based on the potential others saw in them—not because he pushed them into the industry. He also believed that while being a child star can give someone a head start, it doesn’t guarantee success. Beyond the first film, it’s the audience, the strength of the subject, and the chemistry with co-actors that truly determine whether a career lasts. For Athiya and Ahan too, the real test lies in proving themselves through their work and continuing to earn opportunities on their own merit.
