Emraan Hashmi on nepotism: 'I got a break because of my uncle Mahesh Bhatt'

The nepotism debate in Bollywood has been brewing for several months now. What began on an episode of Karan Johar’s show Koffee With Karan with Kangana Ranaut quickly escalated into an industry-wide issue on which every celebrity was expected to reveal their views. Some celebrities skirted questions, but Emraan Hashmi was not one of them. He recently acknowledged that it was his “inside connection” that landed him a role in his debut film Footpath (2003). [caption id=“attachment_895741” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Emraan Hashmi. Image from IBN Live[/caption] “Yes, nepotism exists in our industry, and I got a break because of it. If my uncle [Mahesh Bhatt], who is a producer and director hadn’t been there, I wouldn’t have been an actor,” he said in an interview to Hindustan Times. However, he added that he was not initially keen to take up acting. He said that there was no ’need’ for him to get into movies, that he happened to become an actor after he finished college. He said the bias of filmmakers towards their family is obvious, adding that while he would not push his son into acting, it would be easier for him because his father is an actor and producer. Speaking about the downside of an industry connection, he said that he fears that his son will be boxed into his own image, thereby destroying his individuality. He says his son will not be afforded the chance to start afresh like outsiders do. Emraan Hashmi will be seen next in Baadshaho, where he stars with Ajay Devgn, Ileana D’Cruz, and Esha Gupta.