Vineeth Sreenivasan says nepotism is okay if films work well; cites Dulquer Salmaan, Fahadh Faasil, Prithviraj movies as examples: ‘When films don’t work…’

Varshangalkku Shesham director Vineeth Sreenivasan talks about nepotism in the industry, and says it is problematic only if nepo babies keep getting work even after their films do not do well.

By: Entertainment Desk

New Delhi | April 14, 2024 04:22 PM IST

3 min read

Vineeth Sreenivasan says actor like Dulquer Salmaan, Prithviraj Sukumaran and Fahad Fazil are hardworking. (Instagram/Vineeth Sreenivasan/PrithvirajSukumaran/DulquerSalmaan)

Prithviraj Sukumaran, who is currently basking in the success of his latest film Aadujeevitham – The Goat Life, in one of his recent interviews, talked about him and his peers in Malayalam cinema such as Dulquer Salmaan and Fahadh Faasil — who are his good friends as well — being ‘nepo kids’. While this comment was made light-heartedly in the context of his relationship with these actors, the discussion around nepotism in the Malayalam film industry has been ongoing.

Meanwhile, actor-filmmaker Vineeth Sreenavasn, whose latest directorial Varshangalkku Shesham is now running in theatres, recently commented on the debate and noted that actors from film families entering the industry isn’t inherently problematic if they are hardworking. “As long as the film works, it is okay. But when the films don’t work and the actors who come from the film family are given project after project, then that’s a problem,” Vineeth, who himself is a nepo baby, told Film Companion.

Further, speaking about actors Dulquer, Fahadh and Prithviraj, who also hail from film families, Vineeth added, “If you look at Dulquer Salmaan, Fahadh Fassil or Prithviraj Sukumaran, they’re all delivering and are working hard. As long as you’re working hard and you’re pushing the envelope and being successful, then nobody minds.”

ALOS READ Kamal Haasan, Mani Ratnam, AR Rahman meet Mexican director Alfonso Cuarón; enjoy sumptuous lunch, mangoes. See pics

The son of actor-filmmaker Sreenivasan, Vineeth‘s Varshangalkku Shesham features a large array of nepo kids, including his brother Dhyan Sreenivasan, who has played the lead role alongside Malayalam superstar Mohanlal’s son Pranav. The film also stars director Priyadarshan and actor Lissy’s daughter Kalyani Priyadarshan, besdies other actors like Nivin Pauly, Aju Varghese and Basil Joseph among others.

ALSO READ Rashmika Mandanna says she didn’t know Pushpa The Rise’s story nor how to portray Srivalli: ‘Now I am playing Srivalli 2.0’

In his review of the movie, The Indian Express’ Anandu Suresh wrote, “The major disappointment in Vineeth Sreenivasan’s Dhyan Sreenivasan and Pranav Mohanlal-starrer lies in the fact that, despite the ensemble cast, it’s only Nivin Pauly, in an extended cameo, who delivers a standout performance.”

From the homepage