Annu Kapoor reacts to criticism around Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar, dismisses nepotism talk: ‘Outsiders have always ruled the industry’

Veteran actor Annu Kapoor weighed in on the ongoing debate around political narratives in films, as he responded to claims that facts and timelines in Dhurandhar have been distorted to suit a particular ideology.Speaking to Siddharth Kannan, the veteran actor made it clear that propaganda in cinema is nothing new and has existed for decades.“From what I know, the film has earned around Rs 800–900 crore. So what’s the problem? Others can also make such films,” he said, adding, “Propaganda has always been there. It’s not something new.”Citing past examples, Annu Kapoor referred to older films like Kissa Kursi Ka, which faced bans, to underline how cinema has long intersected with politics.“This is a democracy. Twists and distortions have always been there and will always be there. If the majority is supporting something, then that’s how the country functions,” he said.Using a relatable analogy, Kapoor added that just like a podcast becomes popular because more people watch it, films too thrive on public support. “Why cry about it? Winning and losing are part of life,” he remarked. The actor also addressed the ongoing conversation around changing power dynamics in the film industry, especially the rise of outsiders.Dismissing the idea that this is a recent shift, Kapoor said, “This has always been happening. Earlier, we just didn’t see it because media wasn’t as strong.”He went on to list some of Hindi cinema’s biggest legends, emphasising that many of them came from outside the industry: Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand, Dharmendra, Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan, Vinod Khanna, and Shah Rukh Khan.“All of them were outsiders. They didn’t have godfathers. They made it on their own,” he said. Touching upon the nepotism debate, Kapoor argued that while industry insiders may support their own children, success ultimately depends on the audience.“A father will support his own child—that’s natural. But if nepotism alone worked, every star kid would be a superstar. That’s not the reality,” he explained.According to Kapoor, social media has only amplified these conversations, making industry dynamics more visible than before.“Today, everything comes into prominence because of social media. But the truth is, the system hasn’t changed as much as people think,” he concluded.