Quite hypocritical isn't it?

It’s quite hypocritical when you really think about it. If someone like Kareena Kapoor, Hrithik Roshan, or Abhishek Bachchan debuted today, they would probably face the same level of backlash as the current generation of "nepo babies."

A lot of the star kids we now admire weren’t exactly great when they started out. Take Kareena for example — today, she’s considered one of Bollywood’s finest actresses, but her early years were far from impressive. Barring her debut Refugee, her first 11 films — Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai, Yaadein, Asoka, Ajnabee, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Mujhse Dosti Karoge, Jeena Sirf Mere Liye, Talaash, Khushi, Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon, and LOC — were mostly flops, and her performances were often over-the-top or lackluster. People even used to watch her movies for the unintentional comedy. It wasn’t until Chameli that she finally showed her range and began earning respect for her craft. Now, after 70+ films, she’s seen as a superstar — but it didn’t happen overnight.

The same goes for Hrithik Roshan. Despite his blockbuster debut in Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai, he struggled to maintain that momentum, with a string of forgettable performances before he found his groove. Shahid Kapoor also wasn’t an instant hit — his initial films leaned heavily on his boy-next-door charm, but it took him years to evolve into the powerhouse performer we recognize today.

So why doesn’t the same grace apply to the current lot? Look at Sara Ali Khan. She had a promising debut with Kedarnath — a performance many praised — but since then, she’s had a rocky journey with inconsistent acting in films like Love Aaj Kal 2 and Ae Watan Mere Watan. If you think about it, this pattern mirrors Kareena's early career. Yet, while Kareena was allowed the space to fail, learn, and grow into the actress she is today, Sara is being torn apart after just a handful of films.

It feels like the current generation of star kids isn’t being given the same patience. The moment they stumble, people are ready to write them off. It makes me wonder — did COVID and the lockdown era amplify this mindset? With more time to dissect and criticize, coupled with the peak of the nepotism debate, audiences seem harsher than ever.

Let’s be clear — this isn’t about defending nepotism. The privilege these actors have is undeniable. But it’s worth questioning why we gave previous generations the chance to develop their craft, while the new ones are expected to be flawless from day one. Isn’t that a bit of a double standard?