It has been two months since Sushant Singh Rajput passed away, and his death has sparked a debate about nepotism and favouritism in showbiz. Weighing in on it are TV actors like Donal Bisht, who says that after an incident of favouritism, she stopped giving auditions for quite some time. Donal is one of the successful small screen actors today, but it wasn't easy to make it big in an industry that is eyed by many.
"I think favouritism is everywhere, not just in television or films — and that's completely normal. I think nothing surpasses talent. If one is talented, they will get their break sooner or later. But if one is talented, and if they don't get a particular project, it's definitely unjust. Then again, I'm sure they'd get to be a part of another great project. It may take time, but one will surely get a project, because real talent can't be hidden," the "Ek Deewaana Tha" actress said. She has admitted to being a victim of favouritism.
"I have lost a project when I was a fresher in the industry, and I was in Delhi. There was this person who came all the way from Mumbai to Delhi to take my audition. He thought I'd suit the role. Everything was fixed, from the budget to dates. But when I did not hear from them, I decided to call them after a few days," she recalled. She eventually came to know that an actress from the channel who was on great terms with them, had been locked for the role.
"I was shocked. I thought to myself, 'how could this be? Everything was locked!' Apparently this actress was the channel's favourite. So, that's when I thought to myself that this is all so made-up. I stopped giving auditions," she said.
Actor Sharad Malhotra agrees with Donal that favouritism, partiality, preference and prejudice exist everywhere and in all spheres, but these things should not hold people back or deter them from giving their best in life.
"I honestly don't know if I ever lost a role to favouritism but yes, there were times when just before signing on the dotted line, I was given a lame reason for the project not being worked out in my favour," he shared.
"Naagin" actress Jasmin Bhasin also feels that favouritism exists everywhere, even in friends' circle.
"In a group of five friends, there could be two friends who favour each other. Personally, yes, sometimes I have lost a role or a show but why tag that as favouritism? Maybe, I was not fulfilling the criteria. Why start the blame game? I believe in my talent and capability. If a role is meant for me, it will come to me," she said. Actor Shashank Vyas feels that more than anything else, it is destiny. (IANS)