- Saturday, February 01, 2025
By: Vibhuti Pathak
Netflix India’s latest docuseries, The Roshans, has ignited discussions by offering an exclusive look into one of Bollywood’s most powerful film families. The show traces the legacy of music director Roshan Lal Nagrath, his son and composer Rajesh Roshan, filmmaker Rakesh Roshan, and the journey of superstar Hrithik Roshan.
As the series highlights how the family has shaped Bollywood, the topic of nepotism has surfaced once again. However, Rakesh Roshan firmly denies its existence in the industry. During an interaction, Rakesh Roshan was asked about Priyanka Chopra’s remarks in the docuseries, where she praised the Roshan family for giving opportunities to outsiders.
View this post on Instagram
Addressing the topic, Rakesh emphasized that Hrithik’s debut in Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai was purely based on merit, stating, “Actually, I feel like there is nothing like nepotism. We always cast people who are right for the role. I knew Hrithik well and saw how hard he worked. He assisted me for four years, and when he joined the school and showcased his acting, I could see he had everything it took. That’s when I decided to launch him.”
Rakesh further insisted that talent determines success, not family background. “Had he not had all these things, I would have never launched him. So we launch actors and actresses on their capability,” he said.
In The Roshans, Priyanka Chopra acknowledged the family’s inclusivity, sharing, “They make their table longer. They pull in people like me, who didn’t grow up in the industry, and create opportunities so that it’s not just them who are benefiting from what they’ve been able to create. I really admire that the table doesn’t stay small.”
For those unfamiliar, Priyanka has had a long-standing professional association with the Roshans. She starred opposite Hrithik in Krrish (2006) and Krrish 3 (2013), both directed and produced by Rakesh Roshan under Filmkraft Productions. The duo also shared screen space in Agneepath (2012).
While Priyanka praised the Roshans, she has been vocal about the struggles of outsiders in Bollywood. In a conversation on Dax Shepard’s podcast, she previously opened up about the challenges of competing against industry insiders.
“You know, there are multi-generational actors that come in and get multiple opportunities versus the ones that come in from outside. You don’t have your uncle making a movie for you just because your last one tanked,” she said.
View this post on Instagram
Priyanka also reflected on her fears when some of her films didn’t perform well at the box office. “I was terrified when those six movies didn’t do well because I’m not a nepo baby. I didn’t have that kind of support that exists in a big way in Bollywood movies,” she revealed.
Despite the ongoing debate around nepotism, both Priyanka and Hrithik have carved out successful careers. While Hrithik continues to be a leading star in Bollywood, Priyanka has expanded her career globally with projects in Hollywood.
