The veteran actor Pankaj Kapur spoke about nepotism in Bollywood during an interview on March 10 2026. He shared his family experiences to show how nepotism impacts people. Kapur, the father of acclaimed actor Shahid Kapoor, believed that his son achieved success through his own abilities and dedication to work rather than through personal relationships in the film industry.
Kapur explained that his children, including Shahid, have preferred to work in the film industry under their own names. When auditioning for roles, they present themselves as aspiring actors rather than as the offspring of a celebrated figure. The method Kapur developed enables them to achieve success and experience failures, which lead to actual achievement when they receive project selections.
Kapur believes that parents should help their children learn through direct experiences because this process will help them acquire essential life skills and build self-belief. He believes that people must develop their own financial independence to create the strength which will help them succeed in their professional and personal lives. He wants his children to develop self-confidence, which will help them succeed in their careers, while he lets them face obstacles from the entertainment industry.
The interview also touched on Shahid Kapoor’s early experiences in Bollywood. Following his parents’ divorce, Shahid was brought up by his mother, Neelima Azeem, who worked as a background dancer to launch his career. The industry people in that period did not understand his relationship with Pankaj Kapur, which helped him achieve success without any help from others.
While Kapur remains available as a mentor and source of guidance, he is clear that he has never used his influence to secure opportunities for his children. Instead, he supports their independence, trusting them to carve their own paths in the competitive world of cinema.
