I can ask Mani Ratnam to look at my daughter, after that only talent will matter: Madhoo

25/07/2017

The nepotism debate in Bollywood seems to be never ending. After actors Varun Dhawan, Saif Ali Khan and filmmaker Karan Johar apologising for the ‘nepotism rocks’ chant at a recent awards show, actor Madhoo, who has daughters, Ameyaa, 16, and Keia, 14, is the latest celeb to join the debate. She says that having a family member in the industry always helps, but success depends on talent and destiny.
“It’s the same support that a bhelpuri seller or a doctor will extend to their kids, when they plan to pursue the same profession. As a mother and an actor, if my children aspire to become actors, I will help them. I’ll make them join the right classes and meet the right people. An outsider will not have these advantages. But that’s not enough to make it big in the industry. I can call Mani (Ratnam) sir [who directed Madhoo in Roja (1992)] and request him to take a look at my daughter, and consider her as an actor, after that it’s her talent and destiny that will take her forward. I can open doors for them once, but not always,” says Madhoo adding that Ameyaa is keen on acting.
“Ameyaa wants to become an actor. I tell her, to ‘Finish your graduation first.’ Education is very important; once that’s done, she can do whatever she wants to,” adds the actor, who married businessman Anand Shah in 1999. Interestingly, Madhoo, who made her TV debut with Aarambh, says her daughters aren’t comfortable watching her on screen. “They feel shy watching me especially my work from older days on screen. Both of them are very critical about me. Deepika (Padukone) and Alia (Bhatt) are their favourites and they enjoy watching them,” she says.

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