The Ba***ds of Bollywood, a slickly produced take on the machinations within the Hindi film industry is directed by an A-list insider — Aryan Khan, Shah Rukh Khan’s son. It traces the meteoric rise of an ambitious newbie and in moments of clever self-awareness, there are funny digs at star kids and their dynastic ties. Cameos by the Khan family’s famous friends, Karan Johar and Ranveer Singh, prop it up further. The Ba***ds of Bollywood isn’t bad but it isn’t particularly good either. However, for a first-timer (even if it is Aryan’s mummy’s production), it is superb. It’s also true that in a large, well-funded crew with seasoned assistants, we’ll never know how much credit is due to whom.
Those peeved by the perks of legacy must philosophically take solace in the fact that in the competitive film space, the Darwinian law of the jungle prevails. Whatever leg up anyone initially gets, the average players inevitably fade away – frustratingly, into other successful second acts in interior design or vegan restaurants or that other, most aggravating euphemism for being unemployed, as an “influencer”. Lucky buggers.
Alas, our interests tend to align with our backgrounds. A child following in a parent’s footsteps is a historic norm. To blame a smattering of Nepo babies for grabbing all the breaks disregards humanity’s turbulent past, of monarchies, slavery, caste and class hierarchies — the world has always been run by the one per cent. The Khans may operate from an exceptionally rarefied stratosphere but the YouTuber with 1 million followers lamenting that outsiders have an uphill task in Bollywood has also benefited from an education that gave him opportunities many Indians don’t get. That’s the thing, we are all beneficiaries of privilege one way or the other. Rather than constantly harping about the uneven playing field, a better way is to soberly examine the endowments we have been bestowed, and get on with it.
Having said that, with social media we are just so much more aware of all the lives we could be living but aren’t because of our humble roots or difficult circumstances. Some are born to sweet delight, some are born to endless night. William Blake’s masterful lines sum up the recent ominous turn of events in Nepal where celebrity spawn are currently an endangered species. Instagram reels of the ritzy lifestyles of the children of the political elite — luxury vacations, Louis Vuitton accessories, sports cars — juxtaposed with images of struggling Nepalis enraged the youth. #nepalsnepobabies was the (explosive) central narrative that brought the government down. In fact, the wrath towards Nepo babies is spreading; public fury is gaining momentum in the Philippines against the designer-clad-jet-setting-lot coasting along on taxpayer money. The “stealth wealth” fashion trend of 2023 that focused on understatement, is rapidly acquiring a whole new meaning in 2025. The wealthy will need to move around stealthily, underground. Because Beware, Gen Z is watching.
The writer is director, Hutkay Films
