The actor, who tweeted about outsiders not getting equal opportunities, says that the nepotism debate is flawed. The casting process and what the audience consumes are also to be blamed, and not just star kids, he feels
Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; July 20, 2020)

Recently on social media, actor Avinash Tiwary, known for his work in Sajid Ali’s film Laila Majnu and web films, Bulbbul and Ghost Stories, reacted to R Balki’s take on nepotism. A few days ago, in an interview talking about the debate on nepotism, Balki had said, “Find me a better actor than Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor and we’ll argue.” Addressing the filmmaker’s views, director Shekhar Kapur tweeted, “Have huge respect for you, Balki. But I just saw Kai Po Che again last night. Three new young actors at that time. And stunning believable performances by each (sic).”

While writer and editor Apurva Asrani agreed with Avinash, filmmaker Anubhav Sinha defended Balki, and said, “I think what he meant was that they are both truly deserving stars despite their illustrious pedigree. And I agree with that.”

Speaking about his response to Balki and the nepotism discussion at large, Avinash in a chat with Bombay Times reasoned, “Everyone who is talented should get an opportunity. When I read Mr Balki’s statement, it almost said that yehi do log talented hain (Ranbir and Alia). I am not saying that look at me, I am more talented, but there are others who could be, but do they get a chance? I got my first film as a lead actor (Laila Majnu) after toiling for 15 years. I gave 21 screen tests for it and waited for three years for it to be made. Not many people can even afford to sustain this long. I am glad we have casting directors now, but how many casting directors cast the lead actors of a big film? Has Mr Balki found a casting director to cast his leads? The lead actors are often selected by the filmmakers. So, how would he know if there are better actors out there or not?”

He further explained, “Of course, Alia and Ranbir are brilliant actors and they would stand out even if they were outsiders. If Ranbir wasn’t from a film family, he would have probably taken 10 years to get a Rockstar, but he would have still bagged that kind of a film. Talent will shine through, and good work will be rewarded, but it isn’t a level playing field. Ayushmann Khurrana has taken eight or nine years to be a mainstream hero, Kartik Aaryan delivers 100-crore films today, but he too has been acting since 2010. That doesn’t happen with someone like Sara Ali Khan, who has a Simmba even before the release of Kedarnath. That’s an amazing privilege to have.”

Avinash, however, argues that we cannot blame the star kids here. “If my father was a big actor or producer, why wouldn’t I make use of my privilege? I hold the media and the audience accountable. The audience is the consumer. If they pay and watch cinema that is also being made beyond the mainstream, then it equalises things. Laila Majnu didn’t last in theatres even for a week. Why didn’t the audience go and watch Sushant’s Sonchiriya in theatres? It was a good film. Ab sab behti Ganga mein haath dho rahe hain. Ab yeh nepotism ka trend chal raha hai, so let’s talk about it,” he said.

The actor pointed out that the film industry is big enough to accommodate everyone, so the real issue lies in the casting of big-budget films. He explained, “Around 95 per cent of people in this industry are outsiders, 5 per cent may be insiders, but the mainstream is dominated by this 5 per cent, and all the eyeballs are on them. Most star kids assure filmmakers the returns as there’s so much media attention on them. The nepotism argument is flawed. We can’t blame a few individuals for nepotism. It’s the system and culture that needs to change. As an outsider, you are just happy to get an opportunity. My fight is not for validation. It’s for acknowledgement of my existence as an actor.”

When asked what is his take on the flak that Karan Johar has been drawing in the past month, he said, “Karan Johar gets a lot of flak for nepotism, but it was he, who cast me in Ghost Stories without even taking my screen test. I didn’t know him. I am not the kind to approach people easily either. So, I have seen both sides.”

Elaborating on his beginnings in showbiz, the actor said, “I started with a Doordarshan show for the acclaimed filmmaker, the late Lekh Tandon. In 2014, I did the TV show Yudh, starring Amitabh Bachchan. I thought it will change my life, but nothing happened as no one saw it. In 2015, I did a lovely ensemble film, Tu Hai Mera Sunday. I met Sajid (Imtiaz Ali’s brother) at the end of 2015 for Laila Majnu. They liked my screen test and verbally told me that I was their guy. I was barred from doing other work. But the whole of 2016 they kept auditioning other actors as I wasn’t mainstream enough. I remember telling Sajid that there could be better looking actors than me, but there’s no one who can play that part better. It took three years to make the film and within a week of its release, it disappeared from theatres. So, you are obviously upset. Aur kitna ladein? So, over the years, you learn to let go and focus on bigger things and life beyond movies.”