‘Punjabi singers are real pop stars’

Manpriya Singh 

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There’s one good thing that came out of the whole ‘N’ word rocking the industry. Ever since Nepotism became fairly notorious, everything has been under the scanner—luck, talent, lineage, Godfather and of course, pure luck and pure talent. By now, we guess you’ve taken pure sides and joined in the debate. Does it exist? Does it not? Those who made it and those who would have otherwise never made it. 

In the wake of whole Nepotism debate Star Plus rolls out yet another reality show India’s Next Superstars, with the premise ‘Will industry outsiders become India’s next superstars?’

Guess what? Taking the show further is none other than Karan Johar, the man at the helm of debate, along with Rohit Shetty as the judges, while Karan Wahi and Rithvik Dhanjani accompany the judges on the journey. 

Nepotism—does it exist? 

“Well nepotism exists in the industry and it also doesn’t exist,” opines Rithvik, while in Chandigarh for promotions when asked about his personal take on nepotism. “We have talented artistes like Ayushmann Khurrana and Rajkummar Rao making it big who had absolutely no connections with the industry.” The show puts together 20 contestants from different backgrounds fighting it out for 13 weeks post which the winner walks away with a Bollywood break with a big banner. 

Personally speaking

So what if it exists, as long as pure talent always gets recognition? Personally speaking, it’s been a fulfilling journey for Rithvik, and wholesome too, considering he had a fair share of everything, dreams, ambition, struggle eventually followed by limelight. “I must have been in Class 12 when a friend’s uncle, who happened to be a palmist asked me to forget about my acting dreams. He instead asked me to feed cows and now being from Dubai, it was quite a task to find cows,” he laughs recalling his initial days, which had a fair share of struggle and auditions. “I worked on my craft instead.” 

A conversation on Punjab and Punjabi stars

Even though he needs his dear friend Sargun Mehta by the side to understand typical Punjabi, while watching any movie of hers; being a half Punjabi, he is in love with the language, industry and its people. 

“The only true pop stars of India are from Punjabi film industry. You name it, Hardy Sandhu, Badshah, Diljit Dosanjh, Gippy Grewal, ‘suit suit’ guy Guru Randhawa.” He adds, “More than anything, they are such marvelous humble people. They are such simple delightful guys.” Good to know that! manpriya@tribunemail.com