Aryan Khan the son of the famous actor Shah Rukh Khan, is directing his first show for Netflix. The show is called.The Beds of Bollywoodand will be available to watch on September 19.The series is about a big issue in the Hindi film industry: nepotism. This is the idea that people with famous family members get a head start in the industry. It’s a topic that’s very personal to Aryan Khan.In the show, there’s a character who is from a film family. They complain about living in someone’s shadow. Another character, who is not from the film industry, says something powerful back: Step out of your father’s shadow, and you’ll see how hot it is outside.This line gives you an idea of what the show is about. It promises to be an honest look at the difficulties people face, whether they are from a film family or not.
Navigating the Shadow of a Superstar
From his first public appearance for the series Aryan has not shied away from acknowledging his famous father. During the launch event, he openly admitted to being nervous, sharing that he had his speech prepared on both a teleprompter and a paper copy, with a flashlight ready, just in case. Even if I make a mistake he said my dad is there, right?This moment sparked a dual reaction: some saw the humility of a son, while others saw the undeniable privilege of a superstar’s son. It raises the core question of whether Aryan Khan will be judged solely as a nepo baby or on the merit of his work.
Risky and Refreshing Debut
Film trade analyst Girish Wankhede praises Aryan for taking a risky show. He notes that a less confident debutant might have chosen a safer path, perhaps even launching as an actor. Instead, Aryan chose to make his first project a parody of the very industry and debate he is a part of. The nepotism debate will continue Wankhede says. It’s natural for an actor’s child to become an actor. Yes they get a platform, but they still have to prove themselves.
The Nepotism Debate from All Sides
The debate on nepotism is complex, with different perspectives from within the industry itself. In a 2022 interview actress Ananya Panday daughter of Chunky Panday talked about her father not being invited to shows like Koffee with Karan.To this, actor Siddhant Chaturvedi famously responded.Their struggle begins where dreams are fulfilled highlighting the stark difference in what struggle means for insiders and outsiders.Actress Swara Bhasker acknowledges the presence of nepotism but also offers a broader view. It’s true that I didn’t get the launch that the children of big stars get she told the a news channel. It took me ten years to get ahead, where it takes a star kid two years. But I also have many privileges that a girl from a small town might not have. Nepotism exists in every industry.Senior film critic Ajay Brahmatmaj believes that the film industry uses humor to trivialize the reality of nepotism. He argues that the powerful always have an advantage, and justifying this by saying that the hard work of one generation should benefit the next legitimizes a harmful trend.
Talent Over Lineage The Ultimate Test
Girish Wankhede points out that while a famous name opens doors, it does not guarantee success.Many star kids have failed because the real measure is talent and audience acceptance he says. The history of Bollywood is filled with examples of star children who despite grand launches, could not sustain a career.For every successful sta r kid like Sanjay Dutt or Alia Bhatt, there are others who faded away, such as Rajiv Kapoor, Puru Rajkumarand Kunal Goswami. Even Dharmendra’s son Bobby Deol, after an initial launch, disappeared from the scene for a long time before making a recent comeback with films like Animal.This ongoing debate gained significant momentum following the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput. However, many, including actors Manoj Bajpayee and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, believe the audience plays a major role. You people are the ones who practice nepotism Siddiqui stated.When a star kid launches you are the ones who go to watch their films.The trailer for The Beds of Bollywood features a powerful line.Bollywood is the city of dreams but this city isn’t for everyone. Some people are born into a hero’s house, and some. are born a hero.
Now it is up to the audience to decide which of these categories Aryan Khan falls into.