Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

The big nepotism debate

THERE has been a lot of talk about nepotism doing damage to acting industry outsiders and on mental health after the tragic suicide of Bollywood star Sushant Singh Rajput.

As Sushant started off on television, many small screen stars have been joining the nepotism debate. Here is what some of them had to say.


Shashank Vyas: Nepotism exists, and it’s a normal human behaviour. But if you are taking away someone else’s work, that’s not right. There are many star kids who couldn’t get work after their first two-three films, because it’s the audience who decides an actor’s future. At the same time, there are stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Ayushmann Khurrana, Rajkummar Rao and Kangana Ranaut, who were outsiders, but made their way up. It’s a business. If I am not able to perform and not giving business to my producers, they will not work with me. People need to understand it’s a hard-core business. There are no relationships here.

Vijayendra Kumeria: Nepotism exists everywhere. Getting good work in films might be difficult for a person who does not have a film background. But if we talk about TV, I have never experienced nepotism here. I think the TV industry is open to anyone talented. But, I have come across some film casting-directors, who look down on TV actors.

Arun Mandola: Nepotism is everywhere! I think after Sushant Singh Rajput’s death, people have started talking more about it. It’s ok to ignore someone, but not ok if you try to destroy someone. Sometimes people try putting you under tremendous pressure, so you leave a project. All those who are talking about nepotism are also equally responsible. It needs to leave the industry for good and will only happen if the audience supports new talent.

Khusbhoo Kamal: Nepotism exists, and that’s how it has always been. One will definitely want their family to carry forward their legacy. People who belong to the industry will obviously be first choice. We outsiders also get the opportunity based on talent, but yes, our struggles are more if compared to those who belong to the industry. But look at actors like Rajkummar Rao, Pankaj Tripathi and Manoj Bajpayee; they were talented and made a name for themselves although they were outsiders.

Bhoomika Mirchandani: Nepotism is everywhere and the industry is getting highlighted because people see us more. Instead of talking about others and their success, I think people need to focus on their work and success. We should take nepotism very lightly.

Pranitaa Pandit: Nepotism exists everywhere and it is deep rooted in society. People are blaming Bollywood, but it has existed in business families for generations. I don’t think there is anything wrong with it because everyone has worked really hard to be where they are and it’s absolutely fair to pass it on to their next generation. Bollywood is such a skill-based industry that skill and hard work will make you shine, and no one can stop you from doing so. It’s not fair to target someone. I have not lost any role because of nepotism and have never experienced it. I came from Delhi. Balaji Telefilms and Ekta (Kapoor) ma’am gave me a break and today, I have settled in Mumbai, all thanks to her.

Aniruddh Dave: Nepotism has existed since the beginning of time. Everyone wants their next generation to excel in the same field as them. It exists in the corporate world too, even in politics and sports. I think this word is being overly used for Bollywood. People who don’t have a filmy background should make their passion and dreams their background. In this industry, only talent sells. If you are talented, you will make it big, but you need to have patience. If you have a godfather, you may be launched easily, but what after that? People need to talk less about nepotism and more about real talent.

More For You

Ping Pong restaurant chain shuts all UK branches

The chain had also gained a following for its themed brunches

iStock

Ping Pong restaurant chain shuts all UK branches after 20 years

Key points

  • Chinese dim sum restaurant Ping Pong has closed all its UK locations
  • The chain made the announcement via social media
  • Founded in 2005, the brand thanked customers and staff for their support
  • Loyal diners shared memories and disappointment in the comments

All branches are permanently closed

Chinese restaurant chain Ping Pong has permanently closed all its branches in the UK, the company confirmed in a social media announcement.

Founded in 2005 by restaurateur Kurt Zdesar, the dim sum chain had become popular for its stylish interiors, creative menus, and Asian-inspired cocktails. The company did not provide prior notice of the closure but said the decision marked the end of an “unforgettable” 20-year journey.

Keep ReadingShow less
New Covid strain

Experts have raised concerns about the immune-evasive nature of the Stratus strain

iStock

New Covid strain Stratus spreads in UK with unusual hoarse voice symptom

Key points

  • A new Covid strain known as Stratus is spreading across the UK
  • The variant is marked by a distinctive symptom: a hoarse or raspy voice
  • Sub-variants XFG and XFG.3 now account for 30% of cases in England
  • Experts say there is no evidence of more severe disease
  • Lower immunity levels may make more people vulnerable to infection

Covid variant Stratus on the rise in the UK

A new strain of Covid-19, known as Stratus, is spreading across the UK and drawing attention for its unusual symptom — a hoarse or raspy voice. According to data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Stratus and its two sub-variants, XFG and XFG.3, are responsible for around 30 per cent of Covid cases in England.

Of the two, XFG.3 is currently the more dominant. The UKHSA confirmed that monitoring of all circulating Covid-19 variants is ongoing as part of regular surveillance.

Keep ReadingShow less
Human brain continues forming neurons

Neurogenesis, the process by which new neurons form in the brain

iStock

Human brain continues forming neurons well into old age, study finds

Key points

  • New neurons continue forming in the brain’s hippocampus into old age
  • Study confirms presence of neural progenitor cells in adults
  • DNA carbon dating and single-nucleus RNA sequencing were used
  • Research shows variation in neuron production between individuals
  • Findings could aid treatments for neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders

Human brain shows ongoing neuron formation into older age

A new study has confirmed that the human brain continues to produce new nerve cells well into late adulthood, challenging previous assumptions about age-related decline in neurogenesis. The findings, published in the journal Science, provide fresh insight into how adaptable the brain remains over a lifetime.

Neurogenesis, the process by which new neurons form in the brain, is known to occur in the hippocampus — a region involved in memory. While previous research has suggested that this process continues throughout life, there has been limited concrete evidence of the presence of neural progenitor cells in the adult brain.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kent County Show 2025

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, who grew up in Brenchley

Getty Images

Kent County Show opens with royal visit from Duchess of Edinburgh

Key points:

  • Day one of the Kent County Show begins at Detling Showground near Maidstone
  • The Duchess of Edinburgh visits the event for the first time in 16 years
  • Organisers expect up to 70,000 visitors over the weekend
  • Farming and rural life are at the centre of the three-day programme
  • Highlights include live camel racing, equine sports, livestock displays and more

Kent County Show opens with royal visit

The Kent County Show returned to Detling near Maidstone on Friday, marking the start of a major three-day celebration of farming, food, and rural living. The event opened with a special visit from the Duchess of Edinburgh, who is attending for the first time in 16 years.

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, who grew up in Brenchley near Tunbridge Wells and serves as patron of the Association of Show and Agricultural Organisations (ASAO), met with farmers, equine exhibitors, and local businesses on her tour of the showground.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sri Aurobindo

Heehs’s biography is grounded in extensive archival research across France, England, India and Israel

AMG

Sri Aurobindo and the rise of the Asian century

Dinesh Sharma

My friend and colleague, the American historian Peter Heehs, who has lived in Pondicherry, India, for decades, recently published a compelling new biography, The Mother: A Life of Sri Aurobindo’s Collaborator (2025). Heehs previously authored The Lives of Sri Aurobindo (2008), which remains one of the most balanced and scholarly accounts of Aurobindo’s life.

According to Heehs, most previous biographies of the Mother were written for devotees and relied on secondary sources, often presenting her as a divine incarnation without critical engagement. “Such biographies are fine for those who see the Mother as a divine being,” Heehs said, “but they can be off-putting for readers who simply want to understand her life – as an artist, writer, spiritual teacher, and founder of the Ashram and Auroville.”

Keep ReadingShow less