Did Bollywood's 'privilege club' fail Sushant Singh Rajput

Tribune Web Desk

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Chandigarh, June 16

Sushant Singh Rajput’s suicide has sparked off a conversation around the ruthless ways of Bollywood’s power camps — especially for young aspirants who come to realise their dreams as “outsiders” from all over India, with no bloodline to flaunt.

The general sense that the film and television industry does not care for its own – unless you are an offspring of the industry – is not new. It was gaining ground over the past decade or so. Only, the subject started being widely discussed after actress Kangana Ranaut spoke of it a while back, ironically on “Koffee With Karan”, the chat show hosted by Karan Johar, often accused of being the grand dad of nepotism in Bollywood for his penchant at casting star kids in projects that prop their budding careers.

Kangana, for one, seems convinced that Sushant’s deserving films and work were never acknowledged, particularly at the award ceremonies. She also snubs the argument that he committed suicide because of depression, owing to a ‘weak mind’.

“How can his mind be weak? If you look at his last few posts, he is clearly saying, literally begging, ‘Watch my films. I have no Godfather. I will be taken out of the industry’. In his interviews, he had expressed why the industry wasn’t accepting him. So is there no foundation of this incident? He never got acknowledgement for his films, no awards for his films like ‘Kedarnath’, ‘Chhichhore’ and ‘MS Dhoni: The Untold Story’. Films like ‘Gully Boy’ got all the awards,” Kangana said in a video message on Monday, a day after Sushant was found hanging at his Bandra residence.

Thank You #KanganaRanaut for standing up and speaking up against these #Nepotism leaders in #KaranJohar and #AliaBhatt as well as @sonamakapoor They give Gully Boy all the awards, and Harshvardhan Kapoor Debut award, while Vicky Kaushal excelled in Masaan#nepotisminbollywood pic.twitter.com/Bp8cjotv5y

— Dr Sarcastic Storyteller (@Dr_SarcasticS) June 15, 2020

The message has yet again exposed the fault lines in the film industry. It has also highlighted the subject of `depression’ that many, wanting to make it big in industry, are undergoing.

Sushant’s “Sonchiriya” co-star Ranvir Shorey has questioned the trend of zero accountability of power in the industry. “It wouldn’t be fair to blame someone for a step that he took himself. He was playing a high stakes game, where it’s win or lose it all. But something has to be said about the self appointed ‘gatekeepers of Bollywood’,” Ranvir tweeted.

Celebrity stylist Sapna Bhavnani minced no words. “It’s no secret Sushant was going through very tough times for the last few years. No one in the industry stood up for him nor did they lend a helping hand. To tweet today is the biggest display of how shallow the industry really is. No one here is your friend.” Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur posted an indicative tweet, reading: “I knew the pain you were going through. I knew the story of the people that let you down so bad that you would weep on my shoulder. I wish I was around the last six months. I wish you had reached out to me. What happened to you was their Karma. Not yours.” Kapur was supposed to make his ambitious project “Paani” with Sushant. The film was supposed to be backed by Aditya Chopra’s banner Yash Raj Films (YRF).

Actor Sikander Kher took a hardhitting jibe at those talking behind other people’s back, through a video message he posted on Monday. He said that they should not do so if they do not have anything good to talk about somebody.

“Udaan” actor Rajat Barmecha posted saying Sushant “is no more and suddenly the entire industry and world has great things to say about him” but where “were you when he actually needed you”. Rajat added; “There are so many out there.” He said people should not just say things, but also mean them.

Koena Mitra posted: “Shri Krishna said in Mahabharata… ‘Those who are quiet or neutral shall be deemed to be on side of Adharma’ (Sinners)’. You either speak up or accept that you too are among them.”  Two hashtags on Koena’s post say a lot about how many outsiders feel: #Nepotism and #MafiaBuisness.

But some actors have taken a dig at what they believe is an attempt to malign the industry

Blaming a girlfriend , ex girlfriend, family , colleagues for someone’s death is ignorant and fucking mean spirited.

— Sonam K Ahuja (@sonamakapoor) June 15, 2020

Certain people are just disgusting and will always be. pic.twitter.com/vTgQdCm7AP

— Sonakshi Sinha (@sonakshisinha) June 15, 2020

I knew the pain you were going through. I knew the story of the people that let you down so bad that you would weep on my shoulder. I wish Iwas around the last 6 months. I wish you had reached out to me. What happened to you was their Karma. Not yours. #SushantSinghRajput

— Shekhar Kapur (@shekharkapur) June 15, 2020