Zareen Khan recently opened up about nepotism, opportunities, and the challenges faced by both insiders and outsiders in Bollywood. The conversation began with Saif Ali Khan’s son Ibrahim Ali Khan, with the interviewer pointing out that newcomers with strong legacies need to be better prepared when they step into the industry.Responding to this, Zareen said that the kind of film matters a lot. She called Ibrahim’s debut Nadaaniyaan “a frivolous film” that left little room for performance, adding that his upcoming Sarzameen looks more promising. “Maybe he just needs a director who can guide him, like how Sanjay Leela Bhansali polished Deepika Padukone when she started,” she explained during an interview with Faridoon Shahryar.
Directors must not fear star kids
Zareen stressed that while actors need grooming, the responsibility also lies with directors. According to her, young filmmakers often feel intimidated when working with insiders backed by big production houses.“If your actor is not delivering, you have to say it. Why are you scared of whose son or daughter they are? At that moment they are just individual actors. Don’t spoil your film by being intimidated,” she asserted.Zareen also mentioned Aamir Khan’s son Junaid, who recently made his debut with Maharaj. She praised his performance in the film, saying he did “really well” in an intense role. However, she felt his second project Loveyapa was not suited for him. “It’s also about what film you give a person. In Maharaj he was very good, but in Loveyapa it didn’t look like the right fit,” she said.
Zareen recalls her own struggles
Adding perspective, the interviewer pointed out that several actors had shaky starts yet went on to prove themselves. He recalled Rani Mukerji being noticed in Raja Ki Aayegi Baaraat despite the film not performing well, stressing that audiences will support genuine talent if the spark is visible. But, he warned, “bringing an underprepared actor in a shoddy film and then expecting support is wrong.”The actress then reflected on her journey as an outsider. She remembered debuting with Salman Khan in Veer, but facing heavy criticism that made her path ahead difficult.“I didn’t have someone like Karan Johar backing me up with continuous films irrespective of how I was received. That makes a huge difference. If you get back-to-back opportunities, it becomes comfortable. For us outsiders, if you are not good, you are gone,” she said.